Here we present the results of a microcontextual analysis of purported combustion features recovered from Middle and Upper Paleolithic occupations at the cave site of Fumane, Italy. Our analyses, which integrate micromorphology with organic petrology, show that only a few of the features represent primary, intact hearths; some of them show evidence for various phases of anthropogenic reworking, either through trampling or sweeping and dumping. Several of the features are multi-layered and reflect a complex formation history of various activities related to combustion and site maintenance. Many appear to be the remnants of occupation horizons only partially preserved and peripherally related to combustion. Within several of the intact hearths from the Mousterian, we were able to identify variable fuel sources in different features, implying a degree of flexibility in the fuel-selection strategies of the Neanderthal occupants of Fumane. In this study we design a classification system of the anthropogenic features and also conduct a spatial analysis, through which we can infer diachronic patterns in the frequency and intensity of site occupation and the spatial distribution of activities. We note a decrease in frequency of combustion features throughout the Mousterian which continues into the Uluzzian. The features associated with the Protoaurignacian occupation, in contrast with those from the Mousterian, are multi-layered and well-defined. We argue that these trends, which correspond with other trends in artefact frequency, imply changes in the settlement dynamics of the site during the transition from the last Neanderthal occupation of the cave to the arrival of modern humans.

中文翻译：

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富马内洞穴（意大利）旧石器时代中期和晚期的占领：人类特征的地质考古学调查。

在这里，我们展示了对意大利富马内洞穴遗址旧石器时代中晚期职业中发现的所谓燃烧特征进行微观背景分析的结果。我们的分析将微形态学与有机岩石学相结合，表明只有少数特征代表了原始的、完整的炉床；其中一些显示了人为改造各个阶段的证据，要么是通过践踏，要么是清扫和倾倒。其中一些特征是多层的，反映了与燃烧和现场维护相关的各种活动的复杂形成历史。许多似乎是占领地平线的残余物，仅部分保存下来并且与燃烧有外围关系。在莫斯特人的几个完整的炉灶中，我们能够识别出具有不同特征的可变燃料源，这意味着福马尼的尼安德特人居住者的燃料选择策略具有一定程度的灵活性。在本研究中，我们设计了人类特征的分类系统，并进行了空间分析，通过它我们可以推断出场地占用的频率和强度以及活动的空间分布的历时模式。我们注意到整个莫斯特阶燃烧特征的频率下降，并一直延续到乌鲁兹阶。与莫斯特时期的特征相比，原始奥里尼亚克时期的占领特征是多层次且明确的。我们认为，这些趋势与人工制品频率的其他趋势相对应，意味着从最后尼安德特人占领洞穴到现代人类到来的过渡期间，该地点的定居动态发生了变化。