Hunter-Gatherers Harvested and Heated Microbial Biogenic Iron Oxides to Produce Rock Art Pigment
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Author
MacDonald, Brandi LeeStalla, David
He, Xiaoqing
Rahemtulla, Farid
Emerson, David
Dube, Paul A
Maschmann, Matthew R
Klesner, Catherine E
White, Tommi A
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Dept Mat Sci & EngnIssue Date
2019-11-19
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NATURE PUBLISHING GROUPCitation
MacDonald, B.L., Stalla, D., He, X. et al. Hunter-Gatherers Harvested and Heated Microbial Biogenic Iron Oxides to Produce Rock Art Pigment. Sci Rep 9, 17070 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41598-019-53564-wJournal
SCIENTIFIC REPORTSRights
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Red mineral pigment use is recognized as a fundamental component of a series of traits associated with human evolutionary development, social interaction, and behavioral complexity. Iron-enriched mineral deposits have been collected and prepared as pigment for use in rock art, personal adornment, and mortuary practices for millennia, yet little is known about early developments in mineral processing techniques in North America. Microanalysis of rock art pigments from the North American Pacific Northwest reveals a sophisticated use of iron oxide produced by the biomineralizing bacterium Leptothrix ochracea; a keystone species of chemolithotroph recognized in recent advances in the development of thermostable, colorfast biomaterial pigments. Here we show evidence for human engagement with this bacterium, including nanostructural and magnetic properties evident of thermal enhancement, indicating that controlled use of pyrotechnology was a key feature of how biogenic iron oxides were prepared into paint. Our results demonstrate that hunter-gatherers in this area of study prepared pigments by harvesting aquatic microbial iron mats dominated by iron-oxidizing bacteria, which were subsequently heated in large open hearths at a controlled range of 750 °C to 850 °C. This technical gesture was performed to enhance color properties, and increase colorfastness and resistance to degradation. This skilled production of highly thermostable and long-lasting rock art paint represents a specialized technological innovation. Our results contribute to a growing body of knowledge on historical-ecological resource use practices in the Pacific Northwest during the Late Holocene.Note
Open access journalISSN
2045-2322PubMed ID
31745164Version
Final published versionSponsors
University of Missouri; Office of Naval ResearchOffice of Naval Research [N00014-17-1-2641]; NASANational Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) [NNX15AM11G]; NSFNational Science Foundation (NSF) [CMMI 165138]; [NSF-1621158]ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1038/s41598-019-53564-w
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Copyright © The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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