Rare blue pigment discovered on 13,000-year-old artifact.

At the Late Paleolithic archaeological site of Mühlheim-Dietesheim, researchers discovered faint blue marks on a stone artifact dating back approximately 13,000 years.

A new discovery of rare blue pigment on an ancient tool is changing scientists ' understanding of the colorful world of the Paleolithic period, which was far more vibrant than we previously imagined. The detailed research was published in the scientific journal Antiquity.

At the Late Paleolithic archaeological site of Mühlheim-Dietesheim (Germany), researchers from Aarhus University (Denmark) discovered faint blue marks on a stone artifact dating back approximately 13,000 years.

After applying a series of advanced scientific techniques, the research team identified the sediment as azurite, a bright blue mineral never before recorded in Paleolithic art in Europe.

For many years, experts believed that Ice Age artists relied almost exclusively on red and black pigments, as nearly all surviving artwork from that period utilizes those two colors. This limitation was often explained by the scarcity of blue minerals or by the artists' lack of interest in blue.

Dr. Izzy Wisher, the study's lead author, stated: "This finding challenges what we previously knew about the use of pigments during the Paleolithic period."

New evidence suggests that ancient people may have used blue for personal decoration or dyeing – sophisticated artistic activities that often leave no clear trace in the archaeological record.

Dr. Wisher stated: "The presence of azurite suggests that prehistoric people had a deep knowledge of mineral pigments and access to a much richer color palette than previously thought – and they may have been very selective in their use of certain colors."

The slab containing traces of azurite was initially classified by archaeologists as an oil lamp. However, the latest analyses suggest its true function was a pigment preparation surface, possibly acting as a palette for grinding or mixing blue pigments.

This discovery encourages a reassessment of how color shaped expression during the Paleolithic period. It raises new questions about how early humans expressed identity, status, and cultural beliefs through materials that were far more diverse and visually expressive than previously assumed.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-hien-sac-to-xanh-lam-hiem-co-tren-co-vat-13000-nam-tuoi-post1082087.vnp