Book 5, Question 92
Colorful Clues! Why Did People Use Ochre?
Ochre is a natural earth material that can be red or yellow. People used it to make paint, and it has been found at very old sites. Scientists think it might have been used for art or decoration, and it may have had other uses too.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 5
More fun facts
- Ochre is an iron-rich mineral that people used for colors like red and yellow.
- In Blombos Cave, people ran an ochre paint workshop about 100,000 years ago.
- Red ochre found with Neanderthal bones in the Netherlands suggests people have used it for art and ceremonies for up to 200,000 years.
- A chunk of yellow ochre about 42,000 years old had been sharpened again and again, like a crayon.
- Ochre may also have been used to tan animal skins, color clothing, keep insects away or make tools.
- Scientists found the oldest known ochre workshop in East Asia, a surprise because older signs of ochre in Asia were very rare.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
What is ochre?
Ochre is an iron-rich mineral. Ground up, it gives colors like red and yellow.