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How Do We Know These Were Used as Pigments?

How Do We Know These Were Used as Pigments?

This ocher lump shows linear scratches and grooves that are not natural. These scratches and grooves are where humans scraped a sharp tool across the ocher to remove powdered pigment.

Image of using pigments

Ocher solutre and menton
Image Credit: James Di Loreto, & Donald H. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution