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[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Peasants-hearth.jpg|right|frame]]

[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Peasants-hearth.jpg|right|frame]]

 

In common historic and modern usage, a '''hearth''' (Har-th) is a brick- or stone-lined[fireplace or oven used for cooking and/or heating.  Because of its nature, in historic times the hearth was considered an integral part of a [[home]], often its central or most important feature: its [[Latin]] name is ''focus''.

In common historic and modern usage, a '''hearth''' (Har-th) is a brick- or stone-lined[fireplace or oven used for cooking and/or heating.  Because of its nature, in historic times the hearth was considered an integral part of a [[home]], often its central or most important feature: its [[Latin]] name is ''focus''.

[http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=focus&ending= focus] This concept has been generalized to refer to a homeplace or household, as in the terms "hearth and home" and "keep the home fires burning."  In fireplace design, the hearth is often considered the visible elements of the fireplace, with emphasis upon the floor level extension of masonry associated with the fireplace mantel.  

[http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=focus&ending= focus] This concept has been generalized to refer to a homeplace or household, as in the terms "hearth and home" and "keep the home fires burning."  In fireplace design, the hearth is often considered the visible elements of the fireplace, with emphasis upon the floor level extension of masonry associated with the fireplace mantel.  

 

===Archaeological features===

===Archaeological features===

In [[archaeology]], a hearth is a firepit or other |fireplace feature of any period. Hearths are common features of many eras going back to prehistoric campsites, and may be either lined with a wide range of materials or left unlined.  Hearths were used for cooking, heating, and processing of some stone, wood, faunal, and floral deform or disperse hearth features, making them difficult to identify without careful study.

In [[archaeology]], a hearth is a firepit or other |fireplace feature of any period. Hearths are common features of many eras going back to prehistoric campsites, and may be either lined with a wide range of materials or left unlined.  Hearths were used for cooking, heating, and processing of some stone, wood, faunal, and floral deform or disperse hearth features, making them difficult to identify without careful study.

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]