A preliminary study of the newly found ochres at the Yahuai Cave site, Guangxi

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2025.0042

Abstract

Abstract:

The use of ochre has often been regarded as an important indicator of “modern human behavior” or “behavioral modernity”, reflecting the development of cognitive abilities and the pursuit of art and spirituality during human evolution. In this study, we conducted a systematic analysis of the newly discovered ochre samples from the prehistoric Yahuai Cave site in Guangxi. To better understand the processing and utilization strategies of ochres at Yahuai Cave, this study focuses on a large collection of ochres found in the disturbed layers of the site. It is worth noting that these ochres may originally have come from the Paleolithic layers, which have been disturbed due to recent human activities. Such a phenomenon is commonly documented in cave sites in Guangxi. Raman Spectroscopy and EDX (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) analyses show that haematite is the main mineral component of ochres at the Yahuai Cave site. A total of 72 specimens were identified with traces of grinding, scraping, and knapping, indicating complex and diverse behaviors in the use of ochres. Grinding was the primary processing method for producing ochre powder at the Yahuai Cave. The grinding surfaces usually exhibit two distinct types of traces. One is characterized by either parallel or intersecting marks on one or multiple surfaces, caused by repeated grinding against hard stones, such as grinding slabs; the other is characterized by smooth and polished surfaces, displaying a granular texture under metallographic microscopy. These traces have been suggested to be related to hide - processing activities. Scraping was another commonly used method for producing ochre powder. Hard stone tools with sharp edges were used to extract powder, leaving parallel scraped grooves. Direct percussion with hard hammers was also applied to obtain ochre flakes or fragments, and remarkable flake scars or percussion points were often retained on them. The detached ochre flakes or fragments could then be further processed through grinding or scraping to produce powder. In addition, 20 specimens directly associated with ochre processing and utilization were identified, among which grinding stones were used to obtain ochre powders. Moreover, ochre residues observed on the inner hole of perforated stone tools likely indicate the potential functions of ochres at the Yahuai Cave site. The Yahuai Cave is an important prehistorical site in China, with the largest quantity of ochre discovered so far, the most complex processing techniques, and potential evidence for the use of ochre. These findings provide crucial evidence for a comprehensive understanding of prehistoric cultural practices and human behaviors in East Asia.

Key words: Guangxi, Yahuai Cave site, ochre, haematite, prehistoric human behavior

CLC Number:

K871

LI Dawei, ZHOU Guangchao, LI Fan, CUI Jingyi, XU Xiulan, XIE Guangmao, JIA Zhenxiu, LI Hao. A preliminary study of the newly found ochres at the Yahuai Cave site, Guangxi[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2025, 44(03): 466-476.

Figures/Tables 4

References 46

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实验室编号Lab No.	Fe₂O₃	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	CaO	TiO₂	P₂O₅	K₂O	SO₃
2015LY(1):5201	76.8%	12.6%	6.7%	1.3%	0.9%	0.1%	0.5%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5202	66.7%	15.6%	9.7%	2.7%	1.2%	0.3%	0.9%	0.4%
2015LY(1):5203	71.6%	14%	7.5%	3.5%	0.9%	0.4%	1%	0.4%
2015LY(1):5204	70%	7.3%	6.7%	4.4%	2.5%	0	0.3%	7.7%
2015LY(1):5035	67.8%	15.5%	9.4%	1.6%	0.7%	0.5%	0.4%	0.5%
2015LY(1):5036	68.2%	15.9%	9.7%	1.8%	0.9%	0.2%	0.4%	2.1%
2015LY(1):5037	73.7%	8.6%	7.5%	2.7%	2.8%	0.3%	0.2%	2.8%
2015LY(1):5038	51.2%	19.7%	16.8%	3.1%	2.1%	0.2%	0.6%	4.8%
2015LY(1):5039	67.6%	16.7%	8.5%	1.1%	1.4%	0	2.5%	1.5%
2015LY(1):5040	93.5%	2.5%	0	0.6%	0	0	0.1%	0.4%
2015LY(1):5041	70.8%	14.2%	4.9%	7.6%	0.3%	0.1%	0.9%	0.7%
2015LY(1):5042	86.6%	5.9%	2.5%	1.4%	0	0.2%	0.4%	1.5%
2015LY(1):5043	78.7%	11.6%	4.6%	1.9%	0.5%	0.7%	1.2%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5044	78.0 %	10.2%	4.2%	5.5%	0	0.8%	0.5%	0.1%
2015LY(1):5045	80.6%	10.3%	5.7%	1.2%	0.8%	0.1%	0.6%	0.1%
2015LY(1):5046	60.8%	14.7%	7.6%	12.4%	1.1%	0.8%	0.9%	1.1%
2015LY(1):5047	81.1%	8.9%	4.4%	2.6%	0	0.9%	0.4%	0.1%
2015LY(1):5048	40.8%	30.7%	9.8%	4.7%	2.7%	0.5%	7.6%	0.5%
2015LY(1):5049	79.3%	12.6%	2.8%	1.9%	0.5%	0.4%	1.1%	0.2%
2015LY(1):5050	49.4%	26.2%	6.0 %	7.4%	1.9%	0.1%	7.3%	0.9%
2015LY(1):5051	76.7%	10.4%	5.4%	3.0 %	1.2%	0.4%	0.8%	1.4%
2015LY(1):5052	90.3%	2.8%	0.4%	2.0 %	0	0.4%	0.1%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5053	77.8%	7.2%	1.8%	10.3%	0.8%	0.3%	0.5%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5054	44.5%	28.0%	16.0 %	4.6%	3.5%	0	0.6%	0.7%
2015LY(1):5055	66.9%	19.3%	4.2%	2.3%	1.4%	0.4%	1.8%	0.7%
2015LY(1):5056	91.7%	4.8%	1.3%	0.6%	0	0.2%	0.3%	0.3%

实验室编号Lab No.	Fe₂O₃	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	CaO	TiO₂	P₂O₅	K₂O	SO₃
2015LY(1):5201	76.8%	12.6%	6.7%	1.3%	0.9%	0.1%	0.5%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5202	66.7%	15.6%	9.7%	2.7%	1.2%	0.3%	0.9%	0.4%
2015LY(1):5203	71.6%	14%	7.5%	3.5%	0.9%	0.4%	1%	0.4%
2015LY(1):5204	70%	7.3%	6.7%	4.4%	2.5%	0	0.3%	7.7%
2015LY(1):5035	67.8%	15.5%	9.4%	1.6%	0.7%	0.5%	0.4%	0.5%
2015LY(1):5036	68.2%	15.9%	9.7%	1.8%	0.9%	0.2%	0.4%	2.1%
2015LY(1):5037	73.7%	8.6%	7.5%	2.7%	2.8%	0.3%	0.2%	2.8%
2015LY(1):5038	51.2%	19.7%	16.8%	3.1%	2.1%	0.2%	0.6%	4.8%
2015LY(1):5039	67.6%	16.7%	8.5%	1.1%	1.4%	0	2.5%	1.5%
2015LY(1):5040	93.5%	2.5%	0	0.6%	0	0	0.1%	0.4%
2015LY(1):5041	70.8%	14.2%	4.9%	7.6%	0.3%	0.1%	0.9%	0.7%
2015LY(1):5042	86.6%	5.9%	2.5%	1.4%	0	0.2%	0.4%	1.5%
2015LY(1):5043	78.7%	11.6%	4.6%	1.9%	0.5%	0.7%	1.2%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5044	78.0 %	10.2%	4.2%	5.5%	0	0.8%	0.5%	0.1%
2015LY(1):5045	80.6%	10.3%	5.7%	1.2%	0.8%	0.1%	0.6%	0.1%
2015LY(1):5046	60.8%	14.7%	7.6%	12.4%	1.1%	0.8%	0.9%	1.1%
2015LY(1):5047	81.1%	8.9%	4.4%	2.6%	0	0.9%	0.4%	0.1%
2015LY(1):5048	40.8%	30.7%	9.8%	4.7%	2.7%	0.5%	7.6%	0.5%
2015LY(1):5049	79.3%	12.6%	2.8%	1.9%	0.5%	0.4%	1.1%	0.2%
2015LY(1):5050	49.4%	26.2%	6.0 %	7.4%	1.9%	0.1%	7.3%	0.9%
2015LY(1):5051	76.7%	10.4%	5.4%	3.0 %	1.2%	0.4%	0.8%	1.4%
2015LY(1):5052	90.3%	2.8%	0.4%	2.0 %	0	0.4%	0.1%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5053	77.8%	7.2%	1.8%	10.3%	0.8%	0.3%	0.5%	0.3%
2015LY(1):5054	44.5%	28.0%	16.0 %	4.6%	3.5%	0	0.6%	0.7%
2015LY(1):5055	66.9%	19.3%	4.2%	2.3%	1.4%	0.4%	1.8%	0.7%
2015LY(1):5056	91.7%	4.8%	1.3%	0.6%	0	0.2%	0.3%	0.3%