A paper in an upcoming Journal of Archaeological Science reports on the preliminary success of attempting to identify sources of ochre in the Tucson Basin.
Researchers at the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center (MURR) have used instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) to identify specific geochemical characteristics of three sources of the iron oxide pigment ochre, based on percentages of their heavy metal elements metals and rare earth elements .
The potential of this may be substantial. Ochre is a blanket term for a whole range of materials that have been used for the last 70,000 years or so as pigment for cave paintings, and pottery, and art and ritual uses of all kinds.
Details on the project and a link to the in-press article are included in the page on ochre.
The potential of this may be substantial. Ochre is a blanket term for a whole range of materials that have been used for the last 70,000 years or so as pigment for cave paintings, and pottery, and art and ritual uses of all kinds.
Details on the project and a link to the in-press article are included in the page on ochre.
- Ochre, a definition which includes a description of the MURR project and a link to the JAS paper.
- Sourcing in Archaeology, more on this general notion
- MURR
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