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The expert ensures that “we chose these burnt artefacts because they can tell us in a very simple way whether they have been modified after being exposed to fire.

Since they show no pictures of the artefacts in question I have no way of knowing but it was very common for ancient man to heat treat various flints. Sometimes working a piece into a crude biface to get the thickness down or heating thinner spalls. I’ve been flint knapping for over 40 years and use the same process, my favorite method is a turkey roaster with the pan taken out and filled with sand and the pieces I want to heat. I used to use the same method they did and thats to just dig a shallow hole and lay your pieces in the bottom then cover with about an inch of dirt, then build a fire on top. 400 to 450 degree’s works with most flints, jasper and novaculite need to be taken above 600 degree’s to get the desired results.

Heres an example. The first part is spalling out a large piece with hammer stones, then using smaller hammer stones and antler to remove large flakes. Some spalls and flakes are worked even more to get the desired thickness. When done all pieces are then heat treated and worked into various tools.