Textural, microstructural, and compositional characteristics of Fe‐based geomaterials and Upper Paleolithic ocher in the Lessini Mountains, Northeast Italy: Implications for provenance studies

Abstract

Provenance research of archaeological ocher contributes to understanding the capabilities of prehistoric humans to select, process, and treat suitable raw materials for symbolic and utilitarian purposes. The western part of the Lessini Mountains in the Veneto region of northeast Italy is an ideal location for this type of study as it features several different Fe-rich deposits, and many examples of archaeological ocher have been found in the nearby Fumane Cave and Tagliente Rockshelter Upper Paleolithic sites. Sourcing areas are often identified through the use of geochemical studies; however, microscopic techniques can also be used with the benefit of providing more detailed information about accessory minerals and textural characteristics of the material. One of the goals of our study was to demonstrate the potential in using polarizing light microscopy supported by scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer in research of this type. We studied geological source samples and archaeological materials from the sites, the results of which are very promising in terms of shedding light on the sourcing of prehistoric ocher in this region.

Heat Treatment of Mineral Pigment During the Upper Palaeolithic in North-East Italy

“…In comparing the mineralogical, textural and microstructural characteristics of Lessinian raw materials with those of archaeological ochre at both sites (Cavallo et al . ), the following conclusions were made. The local availability of goethite‐based raw materials is much more pronounced in respect to the hematite‐based raw materials, and the ochre sourcing areas for the two archaeological sites were mainly related to yellow compounds (Cavallo ).…”

“…The selection of samples was made on the basis of information gathered from previous investigations using a variety of analytical techniques (Cavallo et al . ). In particular, XRPD showed selective broadening and characteristic mineralogical phases (Cavallo et al .…”

“…Detailed visual observations, using a stereo microscope, allowed for the identification of variations in the colour hue; the same microstructure was recognized for goethite and artificial hematite using optical and electron microscopy (Cavallo et al . ). The objective of this study was to acquire additional evidence of the heat treatment of red ochre found in the two archaeological sites by combining mineralogical and microstructural evidence.…”

“…Previous studies (Cavallo ; Cavallo et al . ,b, ) have focused on the identification of potential ochre sources. In comparing the mineralogical, textural and microstructural characteristics of Lessinian raw materials with those of archaeological ochre at both sites (Cavallo et al .…”

Bone tools, ornaments and other unusual objects during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Italy

“…This consists of notch and incision patterns on bones from Riparo Bombrini, Riparo Mochi and Grotta di Fumane (Fig.7). Ochre is well documented in the Northern sites (Kuhn and Stiner, 1998;Bietti and Negrino, 2008;Cavallo et al, 2017) with evidence of heating treatment at Fumane (Cavallo et al, 2018). Barge, 1983;Gambassini, 1997;Fiocchi, 1998;Stiner, 1999;Holt et al, 2018, Peresani et al, 2019b…”