Pigment Grinding Stones

     Archaeologists found 87 sandstone slabs for grinding up pigments at the site. Limonite (yellow) and hematite (red) were minerals traded into the Tchefuncte site. When ground up, they made a yellow or red powder for use in decoration. Some of these slabs still show traces of the red and yellow powder on their surface. Another stone (seen here on the right), held in the hand to crush the mineral against the palette, is still covered in red pigment.

Click on the image to the left for a closer look.