Evidence for discrete ochre exploitation 35,000 years ago in West Africa

Article Article scientifique Article Evidence for discrete ochre exploitation 35,000 years ago in West Africa eng 2025-03 author Dayet Laure 0000-0003-0408-6035 970630 author Martínez María Lorenzo author Douze Katja 0000-0001-9997-1605 866764 author Ndiaye Matar author Tribolo Chantal author Rasse Michel author Lespez Laurent author Le Bourdonnec François-Xavier author Schmid Viola C. author Davidoux Sarah author Lebrun Brice author Chevrier Benoît 797462 author Pruvost Charlotte 0000-0002-9928-8459 948921 Administration de la section de biologie (BIAD) author Huysecom Eric 0000-0003-4205-0914 24087 Administration de la section de biologie (BIAD) 106150 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106150 0305-4403 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0305440324002188 Despite new impetus for Late Pleistocene research in West Africa, little is known about the range of Middle Stone Age behaviours in this region. Yet, the multiplicity of Middle Stone Age lithic technologies testifies to significant behavioural and demographic dynamics, marked by innovation and adaptability. Here, we present the first in-depth analysis of ochre remains in West Africa. New data from Toumboura III site, eastern Senegal, dated between 40 ± 3 and 30 ± 3 ka, point towards the use of ochre pieces as part of an occasional and specialized ochre crushing activity, probably dedicated to the production of powders, as well as the use of ochre sticks. Ochre pieces were studied at both macro and microscopic levels and while some of this iron-rich material likely accumulated in the deposits without anthropogenic intervention, another significant set of ochre pieces was found that was likely processed <i>in situ</i>. The impact scars on the pieces are not as striking as grinding traces for evidencing human exploitation. Nonetheless, they cannot be explained by natural phenomena. These remains could represent the earliest known evidence of ochre exploitation in Senegal. They potentially open new perspectives on symbolic behaviours in the Middle Stone Age of West Africa. They show that the full range of human behaviours in this region is yet far from being captured. Middle Stone Age Senegal Modern human behaviour Prehistory Ochre use Archaeology Africa Dewey 570 Swiss National Science Foundation Peuplement humain et paléoenvironnement en Afrique de l'Ouest - Projet Falémé 185384 CH Projects Swiss National Science Foundation CHronology of Rapid Climatic changes and Human adaptation in West Africa (CHeRCHA) 164071 CH Projects 30 Section de biologie 16 false 1230 Laboratoire Archéologie africaine & Anthropologie Journal of archaeological science 175 386f46d1-71b1-4949-b05b-a8d85d6739c4 Article (Published version) Public Dayet_et_al_ocres_2025.pdf 9840201 application/pdf CC BY-NC-ND-4.0 ce3e6fe47c540f8dd0b2038ceb7fe59978b85d5952396896d9d6e207fd878e2b openAccess Faculté des sciences / Section de biologie

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Evidence for discrete ochre exploitation 35,000 years ago in West Africa	Journal of archaeological science			2025	76	54

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Dayet, Laure