Archaeological investigation of the Kakulaane charcoal-burning site

Abstract

In the summer of 2024, the Kakulaane charcoal-burning site, located in Antsla parish in southern Estonia, was investigated. The study area, located in a sandy pine forest that has not been used for intensive agriculture, was mapped for well-preserved charcoal burning remains: 88 burning pits and 57 mounds. The earliest radiocarbon dates place the charcoal burning in the 13th–15th centuries, but charcoal was burned in the area until the 20th century. The research provided new insights into late medieval and early modern charcoal burning technology and land use, and discussed the role of the site in the broader rural-to-urban supply chain for charcoal.