A recent study led by researchers at SapienCE has revealed that ochre—previously considered primarily a symbolic pigment—played a crucial role in the production of sophisticated stone tools by early modern humans in Blombos Cave, South Africa, during the Middle Stone Age (MSA), between 90,000 and 70,000 years ago.
While examining previously excavated artifacts at the SapienCE laboratory in Cape Town, archaeologist Elizabeth Velliky discovered an ochre fragment bearing wear patterns distinct from the typical grinding marks used for pigment production. Intrigued, she presented the artifact to colleagues Francesco d’Errico, Karen van Niekerk, and Christopher Henshilwood. Their examination confirmed the fragment had been deliberately shaped and used in a previously undescribed way. As they continued to sort through more discoveries, further ochre artifacts with the same marks appeared—seven in total—resulting in a reassessment of the use of ochre in early human life.
Published in Science Advances, the study reports the initial direct archaeological evidence that ochre was specifically crafted into retouching tools for lithic implements. Experimental research and replication studies by d’Errico and colleagues revealed that these ochre “retouchers” were used for pressure flaking and direct percussion—advanced methods in shaping stone tools. These methods are highly dexterous and mentally demanding, especially for the production of the Still Bay points: bifacial tools renowned for their symmetry and refined forms.
Notably, the ochre artifacts show signs of rejuvenation, indicating that they were maintained in good condition over time, a characteristic typical of personal or curated tools. “The sophistication of these pressure flakers implies that they were the personal property of expert toolmakers,” d’Errico said. “They may have functioned not only as practical instruments but also as indicators of identity and technical prowess.”
This discovery contradicts common assumptions that ochre’s primary role in the cultures of ancient people was symbolic—ritual, or body painting. Instead, it speaks to the pigment’s functional versatility. Earlier ethnographic and experimental studies had hinted at ochre’s use in such processes as hide tanning or hafting adhesives, but definitive archaeological evidence had remained elusive—until now.
Henshilwood, director of SapienCE, emphasized the significance of the find: “We now have evidence that ochre was not only a medium for symbolic expression but also a key material in specialized tool production, reflecting a level of technological sophistication previously associated with much later periods.”
Van Niekerk, a co-author and director of the Blombos Cave excavations, commented that this discovery adds another piece of evidence to how early Homo sapiens were behaviorally modern. “This discovery will add another layer to our understanding of the behavioral modernity of early Homo sapiens in southern Africa,” she said.
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