Found a 10,000 year old colored pencil

Archaeologists have discovered one of the earliest examples of crayons in the UK - probably used by our ancestors 10,000 years ago to mark animal skin or color artworks. art.

The ocher colored pencil was discovered near an ancient lake, now covered with peat, near Scarborough in North Yorkshire. A colored pebble is also found in another location on the opposite side of the lake.

The main author Andy Needham of University York University said: "Colored pebbles and crayons are in an area where many ancient artworks have been excavated, crayons can be used for art decoration. such as coloring animal skin or for use in decorative art works " .

Colored pebbles with a wide surface can be shaved one end to produce red powder. Colored pencils are 22mm long and 7mm wide.

Ocher is an important mineral used by prehistoric hunters worldwide.

The findings are published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: This report suggests that people collect and conduct crayons in different ways during the Stone Age (Mesolithic).

Needham said the latest findings helped us better understand the Stone Age life.

"Color is an important part of a hunter's life. It is very important in the stone phase and seems to be used in different ways to serve life," he said .

"One of the latest objects that we find looks like a colored pencil, with a tip showing it has been used , " Needham said.

He added: "For me, this is a very important object and helps us build a panorama of life in this area, it shows this is a place full of color, art. in the past'.

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