The History of Pigment’s Studies of the Paleolytic (materials, methods, concepts)

The paper presents an overview and assessment degree of various aspects of research and the use of dyes from archaeological complexes of the Middle and Upper Paleolithic in Africa, Europe, and North Asia. The key aspects of research have been identified: resource sources of raw materials, paint manufacturing technology, their use, and probable purpose. The regional features of the research are highlighted. Pigments from the collections of Africa’s sites are being studied comprehensively, with the consideration of the tool complex of the Middle Paleolithic sites. The studies of European Paleolithic pigments are primarily considered from the point of view of evidence of their use in symbolic activity, in the framework of a discussion about the emergence of symbolic behavior. Modern research on the territory of Eastern Europe and North Asia is focused on the study of the stability of pigments as an element of culture, pigment manufacturing technology based on the study of the structure and chemical composition of paints. Keywords: history of study, pigments, Middle Paleolithic, Upper Paleolithic, ochre, sign behavior Acknowledgements: This work was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (No. 18–78–10079 “Development of Technologies and an Information System for Documenting and Scientific Exchange of Archaeological Data”).