Ochre and hide-working during the early bronze age at Dhaskalio, central Cyclades: first insights from use-wear analysis

Dhaskalio is a small and steep-sided islet at the western end of the island of Keros in the central Cyclades. Excavations carried out between 2006–2008 and 2016–2018 brought to light the remains of extensive architecture on Dhaskalio and a ritual area of significant importance in the Kavos area of Keros, both dated to the mid-third millennium BCE. Among the findings is a substantial macro-lithic assemblage, comprising stone artefacts made from diverse lithotypes. This study focuses on a set of stone tools from Trenches A and C. A micro use-wear study suggests that some of the artefacts were used for mineral processing, broadly classified as ochre. Furthermore, a discernible correlation was identified between ochre and hide-working micro-traces for certain stone artefacts. We hypothesise that these stone items may have been used to work hides in different states. These results are significant as they demonstrate hide-working for the first time in the Aegean Early Bronze Age.