Ancient Humans Used Indigo Plant 34,000 Years Ago: First Evidence of Non-Food Plant Processing Found in Georgia

[Judi Lynn]

34,000-year-old indigo plant residues found in Georgia’s Dzudzuana Cave reveal that prehistoric humans processed plants for more than just food.

In a remarkable breakthrough, archaeologists have found the world’s earliest direct evidence of indigo plant processing at the Paleolithic site of Dzudzuana Cave in Georgia. Traces of Isatis tinctoria, also known as dyer’s woad, were detected on stone grinding tools dating back 32,000 to 34,000 years, proving that early Homo sapiens used plants not only for food but also for medicine and dye production.

The study, published in PLOS ONE and led by researchers from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice in collaboration with international partners, employed a cutting-edge, multi-analytical approach.

Scientists combined microscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and synchrotron-based micro-CT scanning to identify tiny blue residues trapped within the pores of stone pebbles. These residues were confirmed to contain indigotin, the chromophore responsible for the iconic blue color of indigo dye.

Plants Beyond Food: A Forgotten Chapter of Prehistoric Life
For decades, narratives of the Paleolithic have focused primarily on stone tools and animal bones, since these materials survive longer in the archaeological record. This has often left plants in the shadows, creating what researchers call the “missing majority” of prehistory. Yet, plants were essential for survival and innovation, providing not only food but also fibers, medicine, poisons, and dyes.

More:
https://arkeonews.net/ancient-humans-used-indigo-plant-34000-years-ago-first-evidence-of-non-food-plant-processing-found-in-georgia/#google_vignette

[Nittersing]

1. Isatis tinctoria

This is the same plant that's used today to make indigo colors.

At least it's used by Daniel Smith for their watercolor. https://danielsmith.com/color-stories/watercolors/indigo-watercolor/

[VTderry]

2. Thanks for sharing this.

Passed it on to a sheep farmer friend who grows and uses it to dye yarn made her flock's wool.

[Warpy]

3. Theuse of indigo is pretty advanced

and is a mutti step process. Chances are they were dyeing themselves rather than anything else and were very light on possessions they couldn't eat or use to procure food.

Still, it begs the question of how they did it, since most of the process has to be done in liquid. I think this means we have to push back the date of the earliest form of low temperature fired pottery by a considerable amount.

We keep having to push tech milestones back farther and farther. Our ancestors and their co species were a lot samrter than they've been given credit for.