摘要:With both rock art and ochre-stained marine shell ornamentation identified at the four Timor-Leste sites of Jerimalai,
Lene Hara, Matju Kuru 1, and Matja Kuru 2, it should not be surprising that almost one kilogram of colorants
were also recovered from these same sites. Pieces displaying clearly identifiable use wear (grinding, scraping, rubbing)
were collected from the earliest levels of Jerimalai dating to around 40,000 cal. BP, and continued up through
the deposit to the near present levels. Similar quantities and distributions were also found in Matju Kuru 1 and
2, along with Lene Hara. Alongside these colorant fragments were six stone implements displaying evidence for
ochre processing, providing insights into the exact pigment producing tools used in this location. Also found was
an artifact dated to >10,200–9909 cal. BP from MK2 which may be a fragment of a mastic including ochre as an ingredient
in its formation. Overall, this Timorese assemblage offers the ideal opportunity to explore ochre processing
and use over a 40,000 year period in Island Southeast Asia — information which has been previously lacking.
This special issue is guest-edited by Daniella E. Bar-Yosef Mayer (Steinhardt Museum of Natural History and
Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University) and Marjolein D. Bosch (McDonald Institute for Archaeological
Research, University of Cambridge). This is article #5 of 12.