Red, black or white? The dawn of colour symbolism

Authors

  • Simona Petru Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.33.18

Keywords:

pigments, ochre, Paleolithic, burials, Venus figurines, Slovenia

Abstract

In this paper the use of the pigments in the Paleolithic is presented, and some ideas of the symbolic meaning of colours are suggested. The colour red might have been a symbol of transformation, and as such, it was used in burials and for painting the Venus figurines. In the Slovenian Paleolithic, there is scant evidence of importance of colour and only a few finds of stones used for the grinding of the red pigment have been found.

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Published

31.12.2006

How to Cite

Petru, S. (2006). Red, black or white? The dawn of colour symbolism. Documenta Praehistorica, 33, 203–208. https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.33.18

Issue

Section

Articles