THE UISPP JOURNAL
Liudmila Lbova – PIGMENT COMPOSITIONS IN SIBERIAN EARLY UPPER PALEOLITHIC COMPLEXES
Cultural assemblages associated with archaic forms of Homo sapiens in Siberia appeared around 40 000 – 50 000 years BP, revealing the evidence of the modern behavioural complex and use of various pigments. Multi-element composition of pigment materials appearing on some Early Upper Palaeolithic objects, which was obtained using SEM-EDX analysis, showed differences in the use of various natural ingredients in the territories of Southern Siberia (as Kara-Bom, Denisova cave (11), Malaya Syya, Khotyk-3, and Kamenka). Microscopic examination and identification of traces using low- and high-power microscopes revealed the presence of pigment and pigment’s composition on the surface of the personal ornamentations, and also as a natural haematite with trace of using. Composite pigments and a wider colour spectrum, including blue and green colours, replace the use of natural pigments such as goethite, hematite, limonite, colorful clays in collections of the early stages of the Upper Palaeolithic. The use of natural pigments in culture has two aspects: utilitarian, for everyday and symbolic. Household use of pigments, especially ochre, is known from ethnographic materials as antiseptic, adhesive material, skin softener, and addition for food.
Reference as:
Lbova L. 2021. Pigment compositions in Siberian early Upper Paleolithic complexes. UISPP Journal 3(2), pp 116–123. https://doi.org/10.62526/FB7GG4
