The Re-Use of Thermally Altered Stone

Abstract

This article presents an experimental study concerning the uses of thermally altered stone, commonly referred to as fire-cracked rock. A series of experiments were conducted as granitic cobbles contained within hearth areas were re-used. These cobble assemblages were then stone-boiled and subsequently analyzed for thermal alteration characteristics such as color change, cracking, and spalling, for comparative purposes. Quantitative analyses were then applied to the data in order to establish whether differential patterns of thermal alteration exist dependent upon re-use.