We report on a multi-method sourcing study of 35 mineral pigment artefacts from the Middle Stone Age site of Pinnacle Point 5–6 North (PP5–6 N), dating from about 90–50 ka. The artefacts were analysed and compared with geological samples from seven sources using neutron activation analysis (NAA), and supplemented by data from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our preliminary results suggest that the occupants of PP5–6 N likely used at least two local and one currently unidentified and possibly non-local Fe oxide mineral pigment sources. The mineral pigment artefacts derived from the latter source(s) exhibited manganese (Mn) enrichment with concentrations well above those observed in all sampled source deposits in the study area, suggesting a distinctive formation process. The proportions of the Mn-enriched mineral pigment artefacts within the PP5–6 N assemblage vary over time, but tend to occur at higher rates in the glacial Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 deposits, which holds potential implications for changes in the use of sources over time, increased mobility or increased exchange during this period.

中文翻译：

---

南非西开普省 Pinnacle Point 5–6 North 的中石器时代矿物颜料采购

我们报告了一项对来自 Pinnacle Point 5-6 North (PP5-6 N) 的中石器时代遗址的 35 件矿物颜料人工制品进行的多方法采购研究，其年代约为 90-50 ka。使用中子活化分析 (NAA) 对这些文物进行分析并与来自七个来源的地质样品进行比较，并辅以 X 射线衍射 (XRD) 和扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 的数据。我们的初步结果表明，PP5-6 N 的居住者可能使用了至少两种当地的和一种目前未识别的和可能非当地的氧化铁矿物颜料来源。来自后者来源的矿物颜料人工制品表现出锰 (Mn) 富集，其浓度远高于研究区域所有采样源沉积物中观察到的浓度，表明形成过程独特。