A Comparison of Contexts of Red Ochre Use in Paleoindian and Upper Paleolithic Sites

Red ochre is one of nine traits common to Paleoindian and Upper Paleolithic complexes. The similarity goes beyond simple presence, however, and encompasses virtual identity of the context in which ochre appears. These include burials, non-mortuary ritual context, and domestic context. Data are assembled here comparing the use of ochre in each context in the Upper Paleolithic and the Paleoindian periods. Particular attention is given to the Upper Paleolithic sites in the Soviet Union and the Paleoindian sites on the Plains. The earlier prehistory of ochre use is overviewed, and the possibility of ochre having symbolic significance in the Upper Paleolithic and Paleoindian periods is discussed.