Earliest systematic coal exploitation for fuel extended to ~3600 B.P

Area of Science:

• Archaeology
• Energy History
• Material Science

Background:

• Systematic coal fuel exploitation was previously dated to post-2500 B.P.
• Sporadic coal combustion is known from earlier prehistoric sites, but evidence for systematic use was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the earliest evidence of systematic coal exploitation for fuel.
• To establish a timeline for early energy history and transitions.

Main Methods:

• Archaeological excavation at the Jirentaigoukou site in Xinjiang, China.
• Analysis of coal mining, storage, and combustion evidence.
• Radiocarbon dating to establish a chronological framework.

Main Results:

• Comprehensive evidence for systematic exploitation of bituminous coals at ~3600 B.P.
• Identification of a complete chaîne opératoire: selective mining, planned storage, and extensive combustion.
• Extended the upper limit of systematic coal fuel exploitation by approximately one thousand years.

Conclusions:

• The Jirentaigoukou site provides the earliest known example of systematic coal fuel exploitation.
• This finding significantly advances our understanding of early human energy use and technological capabilities.
• The site offers a precedent for energy transition dynamics influenced by societal demands and environmental pressures.