Where did red pigments come from? Researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem say it was likely right here in Israel.
Organic red pigment usage in Israel dates back 15,000 years, making it the earliest known instance globally. This discovery, found in a cave in the Carmel mountain range, sheds light on previously unknown aspects of ancient human behavior and cultural evolution.
Through meticulous analysis of red-painted shell beads using advanced microscopic methods, researchers identified the pigment’s chemical and molecular composition. The pigment was derived from the roots of plants in the region which leads the researchers to understand that the Natufian culture, the first sedentary hunter-gatherers in the levant had a sophisticated level of intelligence for being able to turn the plant into pigment.
This groundbreaking discovery challenges previous notions of early human behavior and highlights our ancestors’ capacity for adaptation and creativity.
