Since the advent of man’s use of fire and fire pits, many advancements have been made. Fire pits can physically vary from a simple pit dug into the ground
to an elaborate gas-burning compilation of metal, brick, and stone. Fire pits have remained very popular due to their versatility and are designed to
contain a fire thus preventing the fire from spreading. Here is a quick snippet on the history of fire pits
SAFETY:
It is always prudent to take special care in safety when using a fire pit. Fire pits are designed to contain the fire at all times, a classic
defining characteristic. One example of a safety measure is to place a screen over the fire pit to contain sparks and very hot materials
beneath the screen. These screens can also reduce the impact of the wind on potentially enlarging the fire.
CONTEMPORARY TYPES:
There are many methods of constructing fire pits. We have described the basic options below:
Pre-made fire pits are the most common form of pits and can be purchased from our online store, www.thefirepitstore.com
These are mostly made of metal and you can use wood, propane, or natural gas for burning. Unlike traditional fire pits, we offer many portable fire pits
to enjoy while camping, fishing, weddings, and tailgating to name just a few.
Assembled fire pits are different from pre-made pits and are usually built according to the individual’s taste and preference. These encompass a
wide variety of styles and functions. Both stone and concrete fire pits are very heavy and are essentially “locked” into the place they are constructed.
These are often seen as a garden feature these days.
wood burning fire pit
If you choose to purchase a pre-constructed fire pit; hire someone to build one in your garden or make it yourself. You have many options to match
your desire. Essentially, to make a fire pit, all you have to do is create a suitable hole to contain the fire safely. This can be as simple as digging a hole
into the ground or as complex as hollowing out a brick or rock pillar.
FIRE PITS IN HISTORY:
Historically, with the discovery of fire, a fire-watcher would be appointed to prevent the fire from spreading or prevent the fire from going out.
Many cultures, particularly Nomadic ones, would actually cut the turf above the fire pit in a special “turf cutting ceremony”, then replace the turf
afterward to hide any evidence of fire!
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The remains of ancient fire pits have provided a great deal of information about their culture. Carbon dating from charcoal found in old fire pits can
actually, estimate when areas (regions) were first populated. They can also indicate when certain civilizations died out. Also, bones and seeds found
in these fire pits indicate the type of diet that civilizations ingested during the relevant period. In archaeological terms, fire pits are referred to
as “features” because they can be SEEN and RECORDED as part of the site. Yet, they cannot be MOVED without destroying this rich history of past civilizations.
