Ochre use during the Upper Palaeolithic: a continuous record from Finca Doña Martina and Abrigo de la Boja rock-shelters, Mula, Murcia, Spain.

The use of colour is a common feature in Upper Palaeolithic sites. However, the analysis of ochre assemblages recovered in residential contexts is rarely the object of systematic analyses. Here we analyse two ochre assemblages, recovered in the Upper Palaeolithic levels of two sites, Abrigo de la Bo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rosso, Daniela Eugenia, Pitarch Martí, África, Orange, François, Zapata, Josefina, Zilhão, João
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/226486
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/226486
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Art prehistòric
Color en l'art
Prehistoric art
Color in art
Descripción
Sumario:The use of colour is a common feature in Upper Palaeolithic sites. However, the analysis of ochre assemblages recovered in residential contexts is rarely the object of systematic analyses. Here we analyse two ochre assemblages, recovered in the Upper Palaeolithic levels of two sites, Abrigo de la Boja and Finca Doña Martina, located in Mula, Spain: 407 and 35 ochre pieces respectively, spanning the entire Upper Palaeolithic. We combined a technological analysis with an elemental and mineralogical characterisation of the archaeological ochre and natural ochre pieces collected in nearby outcrops. Our findings suggest that the inhabitants of the sites collected ochre of different compositions, from different proveniences. They consistently processed ochre using the same techniques throughout, probably to produce large quantities of powder and for a variety of purposes of a symbolic or functional nature.