The use of red iron‐based earth pigments, or ochre, is a key component of early symbolic behaviours for anatomically modern humans and possibly Neanderthals. We present the first ochre provenance study in Central Europe showing long‐term selection strategies by inhabitants of cave sites in south‐western Germany during the Upper Palaeolithic (43–14.5 ka). Ochre artefacts from Hohle Fels, Geißenklösterle and Vogelherd, and local and extra‐local sources, were investigated using neutron activation analysis (NAA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that local ochre sources were continuously and systematically accessed for c.29 500 years, with periodic events of long‐distance (about > 300 km) ochre acquisition during the Aurignacian (c.35–43 ka), suggesting higher mobility than previously suspected. The results reveal previously unknown long‐term, complex spatio‐temporal behavioural patterns during the earliest presence of Homo sapiens in Europe.

中文翻译：

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颜料的首次大规模来源研究揭示了德国西南部上旧石器时代新的复杂行为模式

使用红色铁基土颜料或石是解剖学上现代人类甚至尼安德特人的早期象征行为的关键组成部分。我们提出了中欧地区的第一条o石物产地研究，该研究显示了旧石器时代（43–14.5 ka）期间德国西南部洞穴遗址居民的长期选择策略。使用中子活化分析（NAA），X射线衍射（XRD）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对来自Hohle Fels，Geißenklösterle和Vogelherd的石文物以及本地和局部本地来源进行了研究。结果表明，当地的赭石来源连续，系统地进行访问Ç 0.29 500年与奥里尼雅克期间（长距离（约>300公里）赭石收购的周期性事件Ç.35–43 ka），表明其流动性高于先前的怀疑。结果表明，在欧洲最早出现智人期间，以前未知的长期，复杂的时空行为模式。