Iron oxide geochemistry in the Great Lakes Region (North America): Implications for ochre provenance studies

MacDonald, Brandi L.; Fox, William A.; Dubreuil, Laure; Beddard, Jazmin; Pidruczny, A.

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.02.040

Cited by 19 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, statistical models employing Fe normalization plus Log 10 to reduce the variance have recently been used by some authors investigating ochre raw material procurement locations (Dayet et al, 2016; Eiselt et al, 2019; MacDonald et al, 2018; Velliky et al, 2019; Zipkin et al, 2017). Therefore, a CA was carried out using the proposed parameters for all the elements (except Fe) (Figure 9a–c) to observe whether the groupings are equivalent to those of the prior model (Figure 8a–c).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the first cluster (Figure 8), all analyzed elements (Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , CaO, Ti, Fe, Ba, Bi, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, Tl, V, Zn, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc, and Y) were taken as variables. Furthermore, following the geochemical data treatment recently employed by some authors for ochre provenance studies (Dayet, Le Bourdonnec, Daniel, Porraz, & Texier, 2016; Eiselt et al, 2019; MacDonald, Fox, Dubreuil, Beddard, & Pidruczny, 2018; Velliky, Barbieri, Porr, Conard, & MacDonald, 2019; Zipkin et al, 2017) in the second cluster (Figure 9), the same elements (except Fe) were Fe‐normalized and subsequently log 10 transformed. The data were autoscaled before analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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“…2007; Macdonald et al . 2011, 2013, 2018). Log 10 transformation compensates for the variation in magnitude between major and trace elements, and is necessary for scale‐dependent, multivariate statistics (e.g., principal component analysis—PCA or canonical discriminant analysis—CDA).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

First large‐scale provenance study of pigments reveals new complex behavioural patterns during the Upper Palaeolithic of south‐western Germany

et al. 2020

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The use of red iron‐based earth pigments, or ochre, is a key component of early symbolic behaviours for anatomically modern humans and possibly Neanderthals. We present the first ochre provenance study in Central Europe showing long‐term selection strategies by inhabitants of cave sites in south‐western Germany during the Upper Palaeolithic (43–14.5 ka). Ochre artefacts from Hohle Fels, Geißenklösterle and Vogelherd, and local and extra‐local sources, were investigated using neutron activation analysis (NAA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that local ochre sources were continuously and systematically accessed for c.29 500 years, with periodic events of long‐distance (about > 300 km) ochre acquisition during the Aurignacian (c.35–43 ka), suggesting higher mobility than previously suspected. The results reveal previously unknown long‐term, complex spatio‐temporal behavioural patterns during the earliest presence of Homo sapiens in Europe.

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“…The term ochre is used quite liberally in the archaeological community in reference to any earth-derived colouring material, often showing red, orange, yellow, purple, brown, or black hues, which can be manipulated into a pigment [23, 28, 35, 112–116]. The designation of ochre also implies the intentional recognition, acquisition, and transportation of the material [117]. Thus, in the archaeological sense, the term ochre does not only refer to minerals in the landscape that are red but also minerals that were interacted with and collected by hominin species.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ochre and pigment use at Hohle Fels cave: Results of the first systematic review of ochre and ochre-related artefacts from the Upper Palaeolithic in Germany

2018

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Though many European Upper Palaeolithic sites document early examples of symbolic material expressions (e.g., cave art, personal ornaments, figurines), there exist few reports on the use of earth pigments outside of cave art–and occasionally Neanderthal–contexts. Here, we present the first in-depth study of the diachronic changes in ochre use throughout an entire Upper Palaeolithic sequence at Hohle Fels cave, Germany, spanning from ca. 44,000–14,500 cal. yr. BP. A reassessment of the assemblage has yielded 869 individual ochre artefacts, of which 27 show traces of anthropogenic modification. The ochre artefacts are from all Upper Palaeolithic layers, stemming from the earliest Aurignacian horizons to the Holocene. This wide temporal spread demonstrates the long-term presence and continuity of ochre use in a part of Europe where it has not been systematically reported before. The anthropogenic modifications present on the ochre artefacts from the Gravettian and Magdalenian are consistent with pigment powder production, whereas the only modified piece from the Aurignacian displays a possible engraved motif. The non-modified artefacts show that more hematite-rich specular ochres as well as fine-grained deep red iron oxide clays were preferred during the Gravettian and Magdalenian, while the Aurignacian layers contain a broader array of colours and textures. Furthermore, numerous other artefacts such as faunal elements, personal ornaments, shells, and an ochre grindstone further strengthen the conclusion that ochre behaviours were well established during the onset of the Aurignacian and subsequently flourished throughout the Upper Palaeolithic at Hohle Fels cave.

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Iron oxide geochemistry in the Great Lakes Region (North America): Implications for ochre provenance studies

Cited by 19 publications

References 24 publications

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

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

First large‐scale provenance study of pigments reveals new complex behavioural patterns during the Upper Palaeolithic of south‐western Germany

Ochre and pigment use at Hohle Fels cave: Results of the first systematic review of ochre and ochre-related artefacts from the Upper Palaeolithic in Germany

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