It could be a way to neutralise the smell of a settlement, imagine long toothed hyenas visiting periodically your huts by night... It is possible that a strong

It could be a way to neutralise the smell of a settlement, imagine long toothed hyenas visiting periodically your huts by night... It is possible that a strong smell accrues over that time period and burning everything down is the only way they knew how to do this. Notice that the Jewish practice of putting lamb blood on your house door frame seems familiar here (albeit practically opposite).