Sourcing and processing of ochre during the late upper Palaeolithic at Tagliente rock-shelter (NE Italy) based on conventional X-ray powder diffraction analysis

Upper Palaeolithic yellow and red ochre samples recovered in the last 40 years at Tagliente rock-shelter in theLessini Mountains (Verona, NE Italy) were analysed bymeans of conventional X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD)and compared with goethite- and hematite-based natural geo-materials coming from geological deposits within a distanceof approximately 20 km from the archaeological site. XRPDallowed the yellow ochre sourcing area to be focused on thebasis of characteristic and distinctive mineral assemblages. Inaddition, several samples clearly demonstrated that archaeological red ochre was obtained by of yellowochre as shown by characteristic peak intensities, shape and the presence of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3). XRPD was a very powerful tool for a preliminary discrimination and grouping of a large quantity of archaeological ochre, in order to outline a preliminary hypothesis on the provenance area and to narrow down the number of samples to be studied in the next future through geochemical and structural analysis in order to confirm the proposed interpretation