Craft activities in a village of Fugà (Wolaita, Ethiopia): preliminary etnoarchaeological observation

The aim of this paper is to describe two craft activities, traditional hide working and pottery, observed during an ethnographic expedition in the Semen Omo Zone region of South Ethiopia (in particular in the “Wolaita”) undertaken by one of the authors (G.F.). The possible archaeological implications of the operation sequences will be investigated in an effort to recognize the elements of the living context which are potentially identifiable in a “static” archaeological context

Colour in context. Pigments and other coloured residues from the Early-Middle Holocene site of Takarkori (SW Libya)

We present the multidisciplinary investigation of pigments and artefacts with traces of colour from the Early-Middle Holocene site of Takarkori, located in the Tadrart Acacus Mountains (central Sahara, SW Libya). Here, geological, archaeological, taphonomic and chemical studies (Raman, Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray powder diffraction Gas chromatography\u2013mass spectrometry) are used to examine a vast range of artefacts (raw materials, grinding stones, painted items, as well as lithic, bone, wooden and ceramic tools) equally distributed from Late Acacus contexts related to hunter-gatherers (ca. 8900\u20137400 uncal years bp) to pastoral groups (ca. 7400\u20134500 uncal years bp). The exploited minerals (goethite, hematite, kaolinite and jarosite, among others) are locally procured and processed using quartzarenite grinding stones of different shapes and sizes. Thermal treatment of the minerals is also suggested by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman studies. Gas chromatography\u2013mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses show the addition of a lipid binder to small lumps of pigments in order to obtain a sticky product. Their fatty acid distribution differs from the residues on grinding stones, pointing to a specific use of these lumps. The grinding stones have also been used to crush and pulverize the pigments and as base for colour preparation. A sample of colour from a fallen painted slab referable to late pastoral phases shows the presence of a binder, chemically identified as casein. Taken together, the evidence collected at Takarkori conveys to suggest an articulated cha\ueene op\ue9ratoire, not only directed towards the preparation of pigments for the parietal rock art but also to other non-utilitarian functions, such as body care and ornamentation and decoration of artefacts