Anatomical alterations of carbonized wood: determination of modalities of fuel acquisition among hunter-gatherer groups

Taxonomic identification provides relevant and unique data for the management of woody resources. However, taxonomic analysis cannot provide information on other equally important aspects that allow us to understand the management of this resource. The characterization of the state of wood used as fuel will allow activities related to of firewood supply to be evaluated. The objective of this work is to understand the modalities of woody fuel acquisition among hunter-gatherer groups. For this purpose, the alterations present in carbonized wood remains from six archaeological sites in Argentine Patagonia were identified and characterized. The results obtained allowed the use of healthy, altered, green wood as fuel to be identified in each case. Moreover, the results enabled the management of wood fuel by societies characterized by high residential mobility to be discussed from a different perspective.