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A review and reflection of coloration studies on Paleolithic personal ornaments

  • WEI Yi
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  • Natural History Museum of China, Beijing 100050

Received date: 2024-11-06

  Revised date: 2025-03-30

  Online published: 2026-08-12

Abstract

During human cognitive evolution, the emergence of symbolic thinking facilitated the birth of early human artistic creation and decorative practices. Archaeological evidence indicates that early humans possessed both the capacity to identify and collect decorative materials and the technical expertise to modify their appearance. The application of ochre pigments and heat treatment technologies represents a particularly significant development in this process. From the Middle to Late Paleolithic periods, humans employed ochre pigments and heat treatment to color early personal ornaments, deliberately changing their appearance to enhance visual impact and enrich symbolic meaning. The employment of ochre, heat treatment, and the advent of personal ornaments are regarded as hallmarks of behavioral modernity, garnering significant attention from Paleolithic archaeologists.

Archaeological evidence from Paleolithic sites demonstrates that ancient humans had already mastered ochre’s properties, applying it to personal ornament coloration following grinding and processing. Heat treatment technology reflects their capacity to manipulate temperature for modifying the color and texture of personal ornaments, thereby expanding the expression of these objects. However, the intentionality behind the color changes in these personal ornaments remains to be substantiated through detailed scientific analysis. Recent research has yielded important discoveries in this field, providing methodological frameworks and empirical evidence.

This study reviews current research on ochre pigments and heat treatment technologies applied in Paleolithic personal ornament coloration, both domestically and internationally, to comprehensively explore the technological innovations and cognitive development demonstrated in personal ornament production. This investigation aims to characterize behavioral modernity in Paleolithic populations and establish a comprehensive framework for personal ornament research. The analysis also approaches this phenomenon through the lens of the significance of color for early humans, examines the distinct behavioral patterns and cognitive levels reflected in different coloration behaviors, and attempts to briefly analyze the reasons for the temporal and spatial variations in personal ornament coloration practices documented in the archaeological record.

Future research can be conducted from multiple dimensions including archaeology, cognitive science, and sociocultural perspectives. It can not only reveal the complexity of Paleolithic personal ornament coloration techniques and interpret the social significance of symbolic behavior in early decorative traditions, but also contribute to understanding issues of social complexity characterized by specialized craft production. Advancements in research methods will continue to expand opportunities for retrieving information on personal ornament production techniques and color utilization, offering enhanced perspectives for in-depth analysis of early human complex behaviors.

Cite this article

WEI Yi . A review and reflection of coloration studies on Paleolithic personal ornaments[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2026 , 45(04) : 801 -814 . DOI: 10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2025.0061

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