Discovered a 10,000-year-old colored wax ingot in the UK

22mm long lipstick wax helps scientists better understand the Middle Stone Age.

Archaeologists found a 10,000-year-old lipstick piece used to paint animal skin or paint in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, and Fox News on January 30.

Picture 1 of Discovered a 10,000-year-old colored wax ingot in the UK
10,000-year-old colored wax bars are found in the UK.(Photo: Fox News).

"Color is an important element in the hunting and gathering life. The ocher creates a brilliant red color, it is very important in the Middle Stone Age and seems to be used in many ways" , advancing Andy Needham from York University's Department of Archeology, the author of the study, said. The Middle Stone Age lasted from about 20000 to 5000 BC.

Needham points out the similarities between the newly found item and the modern crayon."One of the latest gadgets we found looks like a colored wax, the head is ground and shaped from a round to a pointed shape, indicating it was used," he explained.

Colored wax bars are only about 22mm long and 7mm wide. It helps scientists better understand ancient life in this area. Maybe this was a very colorful place, Needham commented.

Scientists discovered colored wax bars near the place that used to be an ancient lake. They also found another colored stone on the other side of the lake. This area is located near the famous archaeological site Star Carr. In 2015, a pendant and more than 30 red deer horn hats were discovered at this archaeological site. Hats can be used for camouflage when hunting or for use in ancient rituals.