Stratigraphic and spatial distribution of ochre and ochre processing tools at Porc-Epic Cave, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Rosso, Daniela Eugenia; d’Errico, Francesco; Zilhão, João

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.10.019

Cited by 21 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…Their position within the stratigraphy is approximate, as only the depth and square at which these objects were found is known, and cannot be correlated to a specific layer. This figure is similar but not identical to the image from [37], and is therefore for illustrative purposes only.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The interest of these objects lies in their number, variety, excellent state of preservation of surface modifications, consistent presence of ochre residues, and the fact that they are associated with the most abundant collection of ochre pieces ever found at a Palaeolithic site [37]. In addition, research on the spatial distribution of pigment lumps and ochre processing tools has shown that concentrations of these artefacts are present at the site.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The stratigraphy of the site (Fig 2) shows a succession of clayish, sandy levels and breccia, which were divided into seven stratigraphic units [36,37]. MSA artefacts were present between 60 and 220–230 cm below datum.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of attempts have been made to radiometrically date the MSA layers (for a summary, see [37]). Three artefacts attributed to the MSA found during the 1933 excavation [101] were dated by obsidian hydration to 61,202 ± 958, 61,640 ±1083, and 77,565 ± 1575.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analysis of the material from the 1975–1976 excavation has recently identified a hitherto unknown ochre assemblage comprising 4213 lumps (40 kg) of red, brown and yellow iron rich minerals (Fig 3) often modified by grinding (Fig 3A, 3B and 3D), as well as 23 possible ochre processing tools [37]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Middle Stone Age Ochre Processing and Behavioural Complexity in the Horn of Africa: Evidence from Porc-Epic Cave, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Rosso¹,

Martí²,

d’Errico³

2016

PLoS ONE

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Ochre is a common feature at Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites and has often been interpreted as a proxy for the origin of modern behaviour. However, few ochre processing tools, ochre containers, and ochre-stained artefacts from MSA contexts have been studied in detail within a theoretical framework aimed at inferring the technical steps involved in the acquisition, production and use of these artefacts. Here we analyse 21 ochre processing tools, i.e. upper and lower grindstones, and two ochre-stained artefacts from the MSA layers of Porc-Epic Cave, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, dated to ca. 40 cal kyr BP. These tools, and a large proportion of the 4213 ochre fragments found at the site, were concentrated in an area devoted to ochre processing. Lower grindstones are made of a variety of raw materials, some of which are not locally available. Traces of use indicate that different techniques were employed to process ochre. Optical microscopy, XRD, μ-Raman spectroscopy, and SEM-EDS analyses of residues preserved on worn areas of artefacts show that different types of ferruginous rocks were processed in order to produce ochre powder of different coarseness and shades. A round stone bearing no traces of having been used to process ochre is half covered with residues as if it had been dipped in a liquid ochered medium to paint the object or to use it as a stamp to apply pigment to a soft material. We argue that the ochre reduction sequences identified at Porc-Epic Cave reflect a high degree of behavioural complexity, and represent ochre use, which was probably devoted to a variety of functions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Middle Stone Age Ochre Processing and Behavioural Complexity in the Horn of Africa: Evidence from Porc-Epic Cave, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Rosso¹,

Martí²,

d’Errico³

2016

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

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How to distinguish red coloring matter used in prehistoric time? The contribution of visible near‐infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Chalmin

Schmitt

Chanteraud

et al. 2021

Color Research & Application

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Although the main prehistoric color used for paintings is red, knowledge of this coloring matter often boils down to saying that it is “ochre.” However, the red coloring matter of Prehistory is numerous and may have been the subject of various preparations, mixtures, or even alterations. Understanding the use and transformation of coloring matter raises questions about the technical processes but also about the supply strategies of these ancient societies. In the case of analysis of solid archaeological remains, we can access the petrography, mineralogy and chemistry of these ferruginous rocks. But, when it is about deposited powder, the means of investigation become limited. We therefore propose to test the complementarity of spectro‐radiometry, a non‐invasive method that allows us to obtain a spectral signature of the material whatever its mode of preparation. From six geological reference samples chosen for their color (from red to yellow) and for their mineralogical composition, spectra in the visible and near‐infrared were recorded under several experimental conditions and several modes of preparation of the matter, using two spectro‐gonio radiometers. It is then possible to discriminate these different coloring matter on the basis of their spectral signature and to understand the link with their mineral composition.

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Characterization and sources of Paleolithic–Mesolithic ochre from Coves de Santa Maira (Valencian Region, Spain)

et al. 2020

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The origin of iron‐oxide materials found at Paleolithic and Neolithic sites in the Spanish Mediterranean region is a pivotal issue that has not yet been explored. The aim of this study is to investigate the exploitation of local ochre sources during the different archaeological phases identified at the site of Coves de Santa Maira (Valencian Region, Eastern Spain). A sampling strategy and a methodological approach were developed. Lumps of ochre and raw materials were sampled from the archaeological site and its surroundings. The archaeological materials studied are from the occupational phases dated to between 15 and 6 ka cal BP, whereas the raw materials sampled from the surroundings of the cave are red fine‐grained and earthy‐grained sedimentary materials and Late Triassic (Keuper) clays. Morphological, mineralogical, and chemical analyses of the samples were carried out, and quantitative data on ochre fragments and processing tools recovered at the site were also included. Finally, Fe‐normalized and log10 transformed data and multivariate statistical analysis, using major, trace, and rare earth elements as variables, were applied to compare the mineralogical and chemical profiles of the archaeological materials with those from geological sources. The results obtained have provided interesting data about iron‐based mineral exploitation during Prehistory in the studied region.

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Stratigraphic and spatial distribution of ochre and ochre processing tools at Porc-Epic Cave, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Cited by 21 publications

References 65 publications

Middle Stone Age Ochre Processing and Behavioural Complexity in the Horn of Africa: Evidence from Porc-Epic Cave, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Middle Stone Age Ochre Processing and Behavioural Complexity in the Horn of Africa: Evidence from Porc-Epic Cave, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

How to distinguish red coloring matter used in prehistoric time? The contribution of visible near‐infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Characterization and sources of Paleolithic–Mesolithic ochre from Coves de Santa Maira (Valencian Region, Spain)

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