Ancient Palette
Ochre has ongoing importance to many Aboriginal people. It has spiritual significance and is used in ceremonies, rock paintings and to decorate weapons and sacred objects. Ochre was traded throughout the ranges and further afield, to the south-east and to Queensland, with red ochre being especially prized.
The artists made red, purple and yellow pigments from ochre clays such as those depicted here, grinding it up (usually with a stone on a grindstone slab) and by adding water.
The Flinders Ranges
September, 2023
Ancient Palette
Ochre has ongoing importance to many Aboriginal people. It has spiritual significance and is used in ceremonies, rock paintings and to decorate weapons and sacred objects. Ochre was traded throughout the ranges and further afield, to the south-east and to Queensland, with red ochre being especially prized.
The artists made red, purple and yellow pigments from ochre clays such as those depicted here, grinding it up (usually with a stone on a grindstone slab) and by adding water.
The Flinders Ranges
September, 2023