Graphite in late prehistory

This year, we continue the excavation of one of the Late Chalcolithic houses — part of the settlement that existed around 4450 BC. The structure is a massive two-story building, destroyed by a large fire. Alongside large vessels decorated with graphite ornamentation, several small intriguing objects were discovered among the debris — a graphite cone and three pieces of red ochre. Finding such naturally occurring raw materials in an archaeological context is rare and thus draws particular attention.
Perhaps some have already guessed what these small fragments might have been used for and how exactly they were utilized by the inhabitants of a prehistoric house. Painted graphite ornamentation on ceramic vessels is one of the most distinctive features of the entire Chalcolithic period. With its silvery sheen and intricate compositions, it is both impressive and moving. The raw material for preparing the paint used for graphite ornamentation was ground graphite mixed with fat. It was applied onto the still-wet surface of unfired ceramic vessels. After firing, the characteristic gray/white color with a silvery metallic luster is produced.
Another raw material used for painted decoration was red ochre, which was ground and added to the slip or other fine mixtures used to coat the surfaces of vessels, either before firing or even after it.
The discovery of fragments of both raw materials within a single building suggests that ceramic production began there — the vessels were shaped and decorated before being fired.