Ochre paper

Humans and other early relatives have been using natural earth pigments for at least 500,000 years. These pigments are well-preserved and widely found in archaeological sites across sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is still much to learn about how people in different regions chose, mined, transported, and used these minerals. In the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, regional differences in how ochre was used as part of a shared cultural tradition is explored. By examining ochre use in modern-day Eswatini during the Middle and Late Stone Age, we find evidence of long-lasting traditions passed down through generations. Additionally, new dating methods confirm that Lion Cavern at Ngwenya is the world’s oldest known intensive ochre mining site, dating back about 48,000 years. The article on the Ochre Communities of practice in Stone Age Eswatini and was written in collaboration with Brandi MacDonald, Elizabeth Velliky et al. and summarised the interdisciplinary approach of recent years.