Ochre discovery in South African cave reveals advanced toolmaking during the Middle Stone Age

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-ochre-discovery-south-african-cave.html
A new study from SapienCE reveals that early
modern humans at Blombos Cave in South Africa
used ochre as a specialized tool for stone
toolmaking during the Middle Stone Age,
demonstrating advanced technical skills far
earlier than previously believed.
"We now know that ochre was a multi-use tool
that played an essential role in the daily lives
of early modern humans. I believe this discovery
could change how we view ochre and the past, and
deepen our understanding of early human behavior,"
says researcher Elizabeth Velliky.
...
The team's study, now published in Science Advances,
examines seven ochre pieces discovered in the
sediments found in Blombos Cave, dated to
approximately 90,000 to 70,000 years ago.
...
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads2797
Unveiling the multifunctional use of ochre in
the Middle Stone Age: Specialized ochre
retouchers from Blombos Cave
Abstract
Ochre, an iron-rich pigment, is widely associated
with symbolic communication, but its functional
applications in the Middle Stone Age (MSA) remain
poorly understood. Experimental and ethnographic
evidence suggests ochre being useful for hide
tanning, hafting adhesives, and skin protection,
although direct archeological evidence is scarce.
We address this gap by presenting ochre tools from
Blombos Cave, South Africa, found in Still Bay to
pre–Still Bay layers dated 90 to 70,000 years ago.
Seven ochre pieces were deliberately modified into
lithic retouchers, showing clear use-wear patterns
and evidence of intentional shaping. Targeted
experiments confirm that some were used for pressure
flaking and were rejuvenated to maintain function.
These findings provide direct evidence of ochre
being used to retouch lithic artifacts during the
MSA, highlighting its role in technological systems
of this period. The results emphasize the
multifunctionality of ochre and suggest that such
curated tools may have held personal, cultural, or
technological significance within early modern human
communities.