Ancient artists’ legacy revealed: the use of complex pigments dating back over 31,000 years has been uncovered in the North Caucasus region.
Artistry transcends the ages, and yet another historical epoch bows to its mastery. Archaeologists in the North Caucasus have unveiled an ancient marvel—the earliest instance of employing multi-component paints through a boiling technique. It has been unveiled that denizens of the Mezmaiskaya Cave wielded such pigments over 31,000 years ago, marking this discovery as the most ancient use of such colorants. Details, outlined in a press release by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF), shed light on this remarkable find.
Spectral analysis has discerned that the black paint comprises organic bitumen pigment, while the red utilizes mineral pigments like red ochre or kaolin. Additionally, these ancient paints exhibited traces of a protein compound, likely serving as an adhesive, enhancing the pigment’s resilience.
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