Physico-chemical characterization of remains from a Bronze Age ochre-burial in Biniadris Cave (Menorca, Spain)

Martín Ramos, Pablo (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Gil, Francisco P.S.C. ; Martín Gil, Jesús

Resumen: Red ochre pigments have been used since ancient times by many different civilisations on different continents. In the paper presented herein, ten manufactured artefacts and biological materials stained with a red pigment found in the Bronze Age burial site of Biniadris Cave (Menorca, Spain) have been characterised throught X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared spectroscopy techniques, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The surface analysis of the bones, hairs and ornaments allowed the chemical composition of the pigment used in the funeral practices and rituals to be unequivocally established as hematite-rich ochre. The finding of a gypsum preparation layer on a sample, below the ochre layer, suggests that it could have been used as a primer before sprinkling with hematite ochre. Given the excellent degree of conservation and the worth of this archaeological record for the study of the symbolic practices in the island of Menorca, these results call for further analyses on a larger set of archaeological artefacts to gain insight into the funeral practices conducted in this cave.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103362

Año: 2022

Publicado en: JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS 42 (2022), 103362 [7 pp.]
ISSN: 2352-409X

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 3.0 - Arts and Humanities (Q1) - Social Sciences (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.739 - Archeology (Q1) - History (Q1) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Area Ingeniería Agroforestal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)