The Technology Of The Non-figurative Red Paintings From El Castillo Cave, Spain: Invasive And Non-invasive Analysis
Abstract author(s): Dayet, Laure (Travaux et Recherches Archéologiques sur les Cultures, les Espaces et les Sociétés, UMR5608
CNRS-Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès) - d’Errico, Francesco (PACEA, Préhistoire, Paléoenvironnement, Patrimoine, UMR 5199
CNRS-Université de Bordeaux; Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion, University of Bergen) - García
Diez, Marcos (Department of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology. Complutense University of Madrid) - Pitarch Martí,
Africa (PACEA, Préhistoire, Paléoenvironnement, Patrimoine, UMR 5199 CNRS-Université de Bordeaux; Seminari d’Estudis i Re-
cerques Prehistòriques - SERP, Departament d’Història i Arqueologia, Universitat de Barcelona) - Zilhão, João (Seminari d’Estudis
i Recerques Prehistòriques - SERP, Departament d’Història i Arqueologia, Universitat de Barcelona; Institució Catalana de Recerca
i Estudis Avançats - ICREA)
With the expansion of archaeometric studies and in situ non-invasive analytical methods, a renewal of technological studies is
being observed in rock art. However, in European cave art, the study of paint technology is hampered by conservation regulations.
Furthermore, in situ analyses have several limitations that have already been discussed in detail in the literature. The technology of
non-figurative red paintings in European cave art thus remains poorly investigated in comparison with other Paleolithic depictions
such as black animal representations. Some of the red disks and hand stencils from El Castillo Cave are among the earliest known
cave paintings. They constitute a major cultural heritage from the Palaeolithic and are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Here, we combined non-invasive and minimally invasive methods to study the composition and the technological features of the red
non-figurative paintings of El Castillo. We carried out microscopic, elemental (SEM-EDS) and mineralogical (XRD, Raman spectrom-
etry) analysis of a few micro-samples along with in situ microscopic and elemental (XRF) analysis of a wide range of red paintings.
We compared the results obtained with observations derived from experimental replication for methodological and technological
inferences. Non-invasive XRF analyses provide minimal information despite the application of several signal processing methods.
Fe-based pigments are identified. Fe content is sometimes correlated with As and Mn contents. The analysis of the micro-samples
suggest that Mn likely comes from secondary recrystallizations or repaints. SEM-EDS results show that at least two paint recipes
were prepared. This difference could relate with ergonomic constraints and suggest that the red disks correspond to an accumu-
lation through time of panels made by different persons who shared neither the same technical know-how nor, very possibly, the
same symbolic system.
Source; EAA Conference Paper 2021
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