PIXE characterisation of prehistoric pigments from Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France)

Abri Pataud is a prehistoric rock-shelter now largely collapsed. Archaeological excavations have revealed more than 40 settlements between 35 000 and 20 000 years ago corresponding to the first half of Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian, Gravettian and Solutrean archaeological cultures). During the excavations, remains of painted rock flakes coming from the collapsed shelter walls, painted objects, ochre pencils as well as raw pigments were found in archaeological levels. After preliminary non-destructive investigation of the samples by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction, non-destructive analyses were performed by ion beam analysis (IBA). In this paper, PIXE results obtained on red pigment material are reported. Minor and trace elements were used to compare pigments present on the decorated rock flakes or on painted objects, with raw pigment materials discovered in the same archaeological site. PIXE results provide new data for the interpretation of the Abri Pataud prehistoric site. This study confirms the ability of PIXE to characterize prehistoric pigments and to discriminate possible sources on the basis of the trace elements associated with the iron oxide phase. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.