Material of Interest: Ochre

Ochre (or ocher, or hematite, or limonite) is one of several versions of iron oxide compounds that occur naturally all over the world and have been used as pigment for thousands of years. Vivid reds, oranges, yellows and browns decorated pottery and cave walls, people's skins and animal hides, at sites as far flung in time and space as Blombos Cave (South Africa, 70,000 years ago), Wadi Hammeh 27 (Jordan, 11,000 years ago), and Nausharo (Pakistan, 4,500 years ago).

So it only seems reasonable that ochre should be our material of interest today, doesn't it?

• Ochre
• Blombos Cave (South Africa)
• Wadi Hammeh 27 (Jordan)
• Nausharo (Pakistan)