Ochres reveal colouring of colonialisation

Ochres have always been a part of the cultural practices of Aboriginal peoples.
A study published in the journal Nature, reports ground ochres among the earliest evidence for human occupation of Australia, 65,000 years ago.
The multidisciplinary team working on these finds includes Dr Jillian Huntley, a Research Fellow at Griffith University’s Place, Evolution and Rock Art Heritage Unit, whose research investigates the physicochemical properties of the earliest pigments used by modern humans across Australasia.
Dr Huntley applies scientific techniques to reveal patterns in prehistoric ochre use.
“Unlike other archaeological materials, differences in pigments are not always obvious” she said.
“Ochres that look the same in colour and texture can be from different sources, or prepared and used in a variety of different ways.
“Understanding the chemical, mineral and morphological properties of ochre is often the only way to see differences between them.”
Dr Huntley says it was a privilege to be entrusted to work on the internationally significant ochres recovered from the recent

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