Archaeometric Analyses of Red‐Colored Staining on Archaeological Bones From Late Holocene, Southern Pampas, Argentina

2026/07/23 by Romina Frontini, Ana Karen Jaimes, Verónica Lassalle +1
Arts and Humanities · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis #Mineralogy and Gemology Studies #Paleopathology and ancient diseases

paper · doi:10.1111/arcm.70194

Abstract

ABSTRACT The alteration of archaeological bone color can be produced by environmental factors and by anthropic action. Red‐colored staining of animal remains from the late Holocene Arroyo Napostá Grande B2BN archaeological site (Argentina) is analyzed. The results of FTIR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, and electronic microscopy SEM–EDX analysis are concordant in revealing the presence of hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ) and goethite (FeO (OH)) on the red sectors of the bone. Equifinality of the natural and cultural origin is discussed considering the presence of Fe 2 O 3 in the strata and the use of hematite as pigment by regional hunter‐gatherers.

Citations

• A 100,000-Year-Old Ochre-Processing Workshop at Blombos Cave, South Africa
• Particle size effect on the reaction goethite = hematite + water
• Raman spectroscopy study of ca 12.000 yrs cal BP lithic artifacts adhesions from archaeological sites in the Pampas region, Argentina
• Decorated bone artefacts in Southern Patagonian Hunter-Gatherer locality Cerro Casa de Piedra (Santa Cruz, Argentina)

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