Colorants for early art: Manganese Oxide (Black Pigment).

Manganese Oxide (Black Pigment)
The first image (Catalan Museum of Archaeology - 20.jpg) shows a dense, dark, metallic-looking rock with a pile of black powder. This is likely manganese oxide (or pyrolusite).
Historical Use: This was the primary source for the deep black colors in Upper Paleolithic cave art, such as at Lascaux.
Characteristics: It has a sub-metallic luster and breaks into a fine, soot-like powder that can be mixed with binders like fat or water.

Exhibited at the Catalan Museum of Archaeology, Barcelona, Spain. Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya (MAC).

Tags:
Art Barcelona Catalan Museum of Archaeology - Museu d Arqueologia de Catalunya (MAC) Catalonia Color and Polychromy Original Photo Spain Stone Age Tools and Resources