potboiler stones in excavations.

The identification and interpretation of heated stones

Whatis a potboiler?

Our ancestors discovered an easy way of heating water without having to precariously dangle a pot over the fire itself. They realised that a simple solution to heating water easily was to heat a stone and then drop that into the water container.

The archaeological evedence for this is very strong since stones survivie and the heating evidence is very clear. Obviously the type of stone is important, but many stones get a crackle-glaze effect surface from constant heating and rapid cooling.

Some archaeologists argue that potboilers don't count as 'lithic' because they have not been worked (like a flint blade) but ignore this sort of talk. What they are actually saying is 'I dont care about Potboilers' which is fair enough, but strikes me as a narrow minded position for someone who is supposed to be interested in the ordinary lives of ancient peoples.