Residue analysis of the floors of a charcoal burner’s hut at naour (Morocco)

Abstract

As part of the ethnoarchaeological study carried out by S. Burri and A. Durand on the way of life of current charcoal burners in Morocco, archaeometric analyses of samples from the floor of a hut in Naour were carried out in order to identify the presence of chemical concentrations. These analyses were performed in order to understand the chemical traces left by the various activities during the occupation of the hut and to provide data that could, in the future, serve as a framework for the interpretation of the archaeological record. The samples, taken from the floors in and around the hut, were analyzed by spot tests designed to identify the presence of phosphates, fats, and protein residues. Although it is not always possible to correlate certain concentrations with specific activities, in general, the analysis allowed for the traces of some domestic activities to be recognized, such as the preparation and consumption of food, both inside and outside the hut.