The Framework for Ochre Experiences (Foes): Towards a Transdisciplinary Perspective on the Earth Material Heritage of Ochre

Abstract

AbstractOchre is a mineral pigment that has been used by humans for more than 300,000 years. It appears in archaeological, historical, and contemporary settings across vast distances of time and space, and increasing evidence shows ochre use by ancestral hominins as well as by certain animal species. Because of its unique behavioral, functional, contextual, and temporal breadth, it is a topic of study from a range of disciplines. There has been considerable debate amongst them; in particular, on which concepts and empirical methods are the most useful in deciphering ancient ochre practices on an individual, societal, or evolutionary level. However, if we want to understand the significance of ochre from a range of perspectives, we first must acknowledge that ochre formation and use involves different processes operating across all these domains simultaneously. The diversity of ways in which humans interact with ochre relies largely on individual backgrounds and experiences, which is often reviewed at an operational level. Here, we offer an ambitious framework to describe and explore the exceptionally broad role of ochre throughout geological, biological, and cultural evolution, titled the Framework for Ochre Experiences (FOES). We use this framework to realize the complex histories, properties, and uses of ochre; not within a specific domain – but of the entire earth-human system, operating from deep time and into the future. To do this, we bring together several voices to promote a reflective and insightful interaction between different types of ochre actors. We believe this experiential and transdisciplinary approach is not only important for improving our understanding of ochre use in the deep past, but also necessary if we are to appreciate, preserve and actively engage with this unique earth-material heritage now and in the future.