A research team led by scientists from New York University, the University of Tübingen and the National Museums Berlin re-examined ancient stone tools from Le Moustier, a French archaeological site dating back 120,000 to 40,000 years.
Using advanced analytical techniques, researchers found traces of a mixture of ocher (a natural pigment) and bitumen (a component of asphalt) on a variety of tools, including scrapers, stamps and blades. It is noteworthy that the mixture contains more than 50% ocher, as pure bitumen has adhesive properties.
After performing tensile tests and other analyses, the researchers found that the ocher additive served a specific function. It prevented the bitumen from being too sticky and sticking to your hands, making it ideal for making handles for stone tools.
Source: Ferra
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