中国旧石器时代遗址中赭石的功能

Functions of Ochre in the Paleolithic Relics of China

赭石的使用是现代人行为的标志之一,是除石制品之外更能反映现代人认知能力等深层次精神世界的载体,但是国内对该类物质的研究还比较少。本文主要参照西方学者的研究成果,讨论中国遗址中赭石的功能,认为赭石在旧石器时代的中国地区主要被用作颜料、兽皮防腐和药物,同时它还被用于原始宗教活动。与旧大陆西侧遗址中的赭石相比,除了相似的使用功能,西方的古人类利用赭石的时间更早,所以本研究推测中国地区古人类对赭石功能的认识可能源于西方并在现代人迁徙的过程中流入中国地区。这些证据指示着中国地区的现代人由北向南的迁徙路线。

Use of the ochre is one of important indicators of modern human behavior.It is a carrier,better than stone artifacts,that reflects deeper spiritual world such as the cognitive ability of modern human.However,domestic research on ochre is scarce.This article compared the unearthed conditions of the ochre in Chinese relics to that on the west of Old World,and found that the ochre is mainly used in the paleolithic Chinese area as pigment,hide preservation and medication,as well as for the religious ceremony.In addition to similar functions,usage of ochre is earlier on the west of Old World,thus it could be speculated that the understanding of the ochre function may be introduced from the west of Old World and then populated in Chinese area during the migrationof modern human.These evidence implied the expansion route of modern human from north to south in China.