Los métodos de iluminación durante el paleolitico en la península ibérica

Abstract

The discovery of fire brought with it a considerable change in the lives of those men across several aspects in their customs and daily uses such as defense against wild animal, changes in their diet and even way to fight the cold. Nevertheless, without doubt, it was an essential element to combat the darkness inside the caves and grottos where they took refuge. However, there are not many historians who have given importance to the study of lighting and its relationship with cave painting. But, it is worth mentioning among others Maria Angeles Medina, Araceli Cristo, Antonio Romero, Jose Luis Sanchidrian o Sophie A de Beaune. The appearance of lamps 40.000 years ago was parallel to the appearance of art in caves and grottos, paintings, personal ornaments, weapons that are more complex, etc. That why it is essential to know what type of fuel and wick was the most suitable for manufacturing these lamps. In this work, we have studied the efficiency (length and illumination) of three kinds of fuel: bee wax, tallow and marrow, with the same wick and bracket.