Archaeologists have discovered the oldest mine in America, where prehistoric humans sourced a rare red pigment:
Archaeologists Have Discovered the Oldest Mine in America, Where Prehistoric Humans Sourced a Rare Red Pigment
Red ocher, also known as hematite, was a versatile substance for the ancients, who employed it in ritual ceremonies as bug repellant or sunscreen, and for medicinal use. It was also hugely important for prehistoric artists, for whom it was a pigment for painting cave art. Radiocarbon dating techniques determined that humans first began digging the mine from 12,840 to 12,505 years ago, and that the site was active for hundreds of years. Humans even returned after a hiatus of about a century, resuming their mining activities.
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