Fire Installations in Household Activities. Archaeological and ethnoarchaeological study from Tell Arbid (North-East Syria)

Abstract

The article discusses different types of fi re installations from Tell Arbid (a site in NE Syria) in the context of household activities. Ovens, hearths, heating pits and andirons are the basic types of fi re installations attested throughout several periods of settlement at the site. Most of them come from a Late Ninevite 5 dwelling quarter (Area D). Construction methods, materials and location of the various installations are discussed. An attempt has been made on tracing the functions of installations in different stages of food preparation (cooking, roasting and baking) and in the processing of cereals. The interpretations of the fi re installations function take into account artifacts found in the installations contexts (e. g. cooking pots), as well as archaeobotanical and archaeozoological remains accompanying them. Ethnoarchaeological observations from modern Tell Arbid village and other places in the Near East have also been considered.