Radical Anthropology<p>Rather than focus on specific sites,regions or technocomplexes, <a href="https://c.im/tags/Dapschauskas" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Dapschauskas</span></a> et al use methods based on <a href="https://c.im/tags/timeaveraging" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>timeaveraging</span></a> to identify three continent-wide distinct phases of ochre use: an initial phase 500-330 thousand years ago (ka); an emergent phase from 330-160 ka; and an habitual phase from 160-40 ka.</p><p>At each phase, the number of sites with ochre increases; the ratio of sites with ochre compared to those with only stone artefacts shows increasing intensity of ochre use. It becomes habitual cultural practice in S, E and N Africa from 160 ka when a third of sites contain ochre. </p><p>4/<br />Image: three maps of Africa show three distinct phases of ochre use, initial from 500-330,000 years ago; emergent from 330-160,000 years ago; and habitual from 160-40,000 years. The final phase shows large quantities in South and East Africa with sites also in the North.</p>