Fuels and craft in North-Western Mediterranean (Ist c. BC-XVIIIth c. AD): Synthesis of the anthracological approach

International audienceDuring Historical times, fire was one of the main energy used for industry, craft and domestic activities. For the past 40 years, anthracological analyses were realized in Mediterranean France on nearly 97 ancient, medieval and modern sites. If several activities are now well documented (charcoal and lime burning, pottery, cremation), no global approach has been attempted so far. An inventory was realized, based on a broad range of activities (ceramic, charcoal, lime, vegetal exudates, food, metal, glass, textiles, leathers, soap, salt, plaster) gathered in a same data basis. In order to understand phenomenon of rupture and continuity of the practices, the corpus comprises a chronology going from the Romanization to the Industrial Revolution. Craft and industry constitute the major part of the corpus. This work raises new questions. Currently, archaeologists aim to link the use of fuel with the type of products made (ceramic, lime, glass, etc.). Also, they affirm that some taxa have a calorific value more important than others, and that craftsmen used to chose the fuel regarding its specific properties. Nonetheless, our research proves that these ideas are not representative of past practices. For this reason, we propose a new approach which takes into account the constraint imposed by thermic and technical necessities (i.e. concentration of fire, or, on the contrary, circulation of fire in the kilns). Indeed, the choice of fuel does not always rely on the choice of a taxa for itself but on other criteria such as morphology, caliber, humidity level, etc. Furthermore, we propose a different interpretation of anthracological data. Generally, anthracologists consider that their data only reflect the choice of the craftsmen and the ecological constraints. But it appears that the role of land/forest owners, who managed the fuel resources, has never really been discussed or taken into account. This communication will propose a first discussion on the subject. Studies of multi-craft sites will be presented, as well as examples of " management on strain " (distribution of elements coming from a same tree in order to fuel different activities). Recent methodological developments will be introduced, such as the restitution of calibers, or the observation of tools marks, bringing information on the preparation of the fuel. By crossing anthracological data with medieval and modern texts, a socio-professional approach of the preparation of the fuel will also be possible. At last, the energetic transition towards the use of fossil charcoal will also be attempted