An exploration of reds and yellows in the Paris basin: sourcing strategies during the upper Paleolithic

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Ferruginous coloring materials have been extensively used in various facets of material culture since the Upper Palaeolithic offering valuable insights into the deliberate choices made by ancient societies, illuminating their circulation routes, ideas, preferences, and traditions.In the Paris Basin, rich in ferruginous coloring resources and numerous Upper Palaeolithic sites, a comprehensive study was undertaken. This involves documenting ferruginous resources from local formations and analyzing archaeological collections spanning from the early Upper Palaeolithic to the Upper Magdalenian period. Archaeological collections from significant sites such as Grotte du Renne (Arcy-sur-Cure, Chatelperronian), Mont-Saint-Aubin (Oisy, Badegoulian), Pincevent (Upper Magdalenian), and Louviers (Upper Magdalenian) underwent systematic petrological analyses and identifications of traces of past technical modifications using stereomicroscopes. These allowed for the characterization of the nature, provenance (in comparison to geological references), petrophysical properties, working techniques, and uses of the various rocks. Despite the availability of local lithologies (ferruginous sandstones, limestones, concretions and Oolithic Iron Stones - OIS), certain resources from outside the watershed were preferred and exhibit enduring usage patterns. For instance, ferruginous crinoidal limestones used for powder production at Grotte du Renne, Mont Saint-Aubin, and Pincevent originated from the Hettangian of the northeastern Morvan foothills (35-145kilometers away). New resources were introduced during the Badegoulian period and became widespread during the Magdalenian, such as OIS from Ordovician formations in Normandy (100-360kilometers away), used for perforated disks shaping and powder production. At Pincevent, where twenty levels document recurrent settlements within a short timeframe, the transition in selection of OIS from Aalenian-Toarcian (300 kilometerssouth) to Norman Ordovician (200 kilometers west) formations underscores changes in material-sourcing practices.Overall, petrographic and technological cross-examinations unveil specific material selection strategies among ancient human groups, prioritizing desired properties over geographical proximity. This highlights the intricate relationship between human behavior, resource availability, and technological innovation in prehistoric contexts.