Prehistoric Mining with Fire

Blog by Jack Cresson, Steve Nissly, Barry Keegan, Dick Doyle (deceased), Anthony Gambardello, Mike Bradshaw and Blaise Colasante

This experimental research has been ongoing many decades but has gotten traction from several recent research agendas on prehistoric quarries in Quebec, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Quarries in Central Quebec, at Colline Blanc, Addison County Vermont, Worcester Co. Mass., Anne Arundel Co. Md. and Adams Co. Pennsylvania have all revealed diagnostic attributes for the use of fire in breaking down large packages of toolstone. In toto, at least eight other examples have been documented throughout the Eastern Woodlands on various materials including, quartzite, rhyolite, orthoquartzite, chert, jasper and quartz.

Power point presentations have been presented at various venues including EAC 12, Eastern States Archeological Federation, Mid-Atlantic Archaeological Conference and NJ Archeological Society and Conferences. Thus far we have conducted experimental tests on three kinds of rhyolite, several kinds of orthoquartzites and quartzite with astounding results. This year we plan to test yet another rhyolite type that has shown strong evidence of fire extraction.

Blog by Jack Cresson, Steve Nissly, Barry Keegan, Dick Doyle, (deceased), Anthony Gambardello, Mike Bradshaw and Blaise Colasante