RGZM (Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum) - Forschungsinstitut für Vor- und Frühgeschichte / Roman-Germanic Central Museum - Institute for Prehistoric and Early Historical Archaeology

Graduate Student, Department of Palaeolithic Studies (Forschungsbereich Altsteinzeit)

Other Affiliations: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Institut für Vor- und Frühgeschichte

Thesis Title: The use of fire in the late Upper Palaeolithic

About

I am currently working on my PhD-thesis about the use of fire in the late Upper Palaeolithic at the Department of Palaeolithic Studies of the RGZM (Schloss Monrepos, Neuwied, Germany), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sabine-Gaudzinski-Windheuser. My work is part of the main research "Settlement Systems and Internal Organisation of Settlements during the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic" (http://web.rgzm.de/146.html?&L=1).
The focus of my studies is on fireplaces of the Magdalenian period. My primary interests lie in the construction features and the spatial analysis of lithic artefacts around fireplaces, with particular focus on tool distributions.

At the same time I carried out a number of experimental studies. These were controlled burning experiments on different kinds of rocks as well as on various types of flint or chert. The aim of the studies was to observe and document macroscopically visible heat modifications and to find out if certain modifications are associated with specific temperatures.

I completed my master’s at the Johannes Gutenberg-University in Mainz, Germany in 2006. As part of my thesis I conducted a spatial analysis of stone artefacts of Concentration IV of the Magdalenian site of Gönnersdorf, Germany. The most characteristic feature of this part of the site is a trapezoidal stone setting with a central fireplace, interpreted as the remains of a former dwelling.

Contact Information