Chapter 4: Ritual Taper Burn Marks

Over the last twenty-five years, archaeologists have been recording
taper burn marks on medieval and later building timbers. Once
thought to be the result of random accidents, they are now
understood to be the material trace of applied “pyro-technology”—an
act intended to protect the building and occupants from harm.

From 1209, ships had to be disarmed before they could enter the tower *‘between the chains’* and the La **Tour de la Lanterne** began life as one of the original chain towers before it became the lighthouse beacon for the port. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

The author has recorded them in churches, farm buildings, tithe barns, castles, fortified manor houses and elite residences…here is an example from Le Tour de la Lanterne, La Rochelle, France built both as a defensive tour guarding the harbour and as a lighthouse. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was used as a prison for Dutch, English and Spanish sailors who also left their mark…

One of the may highly-detailed depictions of ships carved into the walls of the tower by the 18th and 19th century prisoners who were held captive here. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

Taper burn marks: morphology, defining characteristics
A taper burn mark can be identified by its “tear drop” shape—not unlike
that of a candle flame—being round at the base and narrowing to a
point, which is the result of the way the flame was applied to the timber.

Many of the original wooden doors of the tower possess both single and multiple taper burn marks. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

Its characteristic shape is the archaeological
trace of a “controlled” flame having been deliberately applied to a timber
element repeatedly, using a taper. A taper was a long, thin candle
used mainly for lighting fires, whose design was intended to create a
long, steady flame. It is now generally agreed that it was the taper—
rather than a candle or a rush light—that was the most likely choice of
“tool” to effect the desired result.

Some of the main structural timbers have multiple taper burn marks.
Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

Taper burn marks can vary in size, from a few millimetres in length
to those of several centimetres and can be found either as single burns or in overlapping multiples.

Taper burn marks, scale 80mm. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

One distinct characteristic of the burn mark is the depth to which the flame has been allowed to burn into the timber, which can be up to several millimetres. They are commonly found on fireplace lintels (bressummers) as well as around thresholds and openings such as timber doors and windows.

Floor 4: The Jehan Merichon Room (the floor is a 20th century addition). Note marks on central upright. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

In other instances, they have been found in inaccessible locations within a building, such as behind panelling or even under floorboards, suggesting covert application.