Fire pit

A fire pit (or a fire hole) can vary from a pit dug in the ground to an elaborate gas burning structure of stone, brick, and metal. The common feature of fire pits is that they are designed to contain fire and prevent it from spreading.

Contemporary types

Pre-made fire pits are the most common form of fire pits and can be purchased from a store.^[1] These are made mostly of metal and can be either wood or gas burning. Unlike traditional fire pits, these fire pits are portable.

Assembled fire pits are different from pre-made fire pits and because they are built according to an individual's wishes, they encompass a wider variety of styles and functions. Both stone and concrete fire pits are very heavy and are essentially locked into wherever they are placed. Both wood and gas may be used as fuel sources. In lieu of wood as an aesthetic, gas fire pits use a variety of mediums (gas logs, fire glass, stones, etc.) to retain heat and obscure the internal plumbing of the fire pit.

Essentially, to make a fire pit only a hole is required in order to safely contain a fire. This can be as simple as digging a hole in the ground, or as complex as hollowing out a brick or rock pillar.

The Dakota smokeless fire pit

Dakota fire pit illustration

An aerated scheme for building a fire with little or no smoke is known by camping and scouting experts as the Dakota fire pit.^{[citation needed]} As depicted in the illustration, two small holes are dug in the ground, one for the firewood the other for a draft of air. Small twigs are stuffed into the fire hole and then on top an easy burning layer of scrap is set. The fire burns from the top downward, dragging air from the "air hole" as it burns. Because the air passes inside the wood the CO gas is consumed burning strongly and brightly and with little or no seen smoke. The Dakota fire pit is a tactical fire used by the United States Marine Corps as the flame produces a low light signature, reduced smoke, and is easier to ignite under strong wind conditions. ^[2]

Fire pits in history

Many cultures, particularly nomadic ones would cut the turf above the fire-pit in a turf cutting ceremony, replacing the turf afterwards to hide any evidence of the fire.^[3] Elements of this ceremony remain in traditional youth organisations such as the Woodcraft Folk.

Archaeological significance

The remains of fire pits preserve information about past cultures. Radiocarbon dating from charcoal found in old fire pits can estimate when region's were first populated or when civilizations died out. Bones and seeds found in fire pits indicate the diet of that area.

In archaeological terms fire pits are referred to as features because they can be seen and recorded as part of the site but cannot be moved without being destroyed.

See also

• Fire ring

References

External links

• CBS Backyard fire pit article
• CW56 featured article
• Live Science Article: Archaeology
• Binghamton University Archaeology on the Divide Project
• This Old House: Building A Fire Pit

v t e Firelighting Campfire Bonfire List of firelighting topics Components Ember Firewood Spark Tinder Wood ash Wood fuel Topics Autoignition temperature Combustion Friction fire Minimum ignition energy Smouldering Early starters Burning glass (Solar Spark Lighter) Fire piston Fire plough Fire-saw Fire striker Flint Hand drill Bow drill Pump drill Modern starters Chisquero Black match Electric match Ferrocerium Lighter Other equipment Char cloth Feather stick Fire pan Fire pit Fire ring Matchbook Matchbox Punk Tinderbox Torch Related articles Control of fire by early humans Native American use of fire Outdoor cooking Firem'n Chit Pyrolysis Survival skills Fire portal