Ancient people can use Ocher not only to decorate, but also to protect against ultraviolet radiation in a defeat from 41,000 years ago. This conclusion was given by scientists at the University of Michigan, who published a study in the journal Science Advances (SA).
The Lashamp event weakens the Earth's magnetic field 10 times, resulting in an increase in UV level. In areas most affected by radiation (Europe, Africa, Australia), the use of ocher becomes more often, a stone picture appears and clothes are very complicated. The researchers believe that the pigment serves as a similar substance of sunscreen.
“The coincidence of the spread of ocher with high UV radiation stages is too accurate to accidentally. This can become an important adaptation for survival,” the authors of the study noted.
Earlier, the group of international researchers from the University of Algarve (Portugal) and the University of Vienna (Austria) discovered a unique evidence of the use of fire with ancient people in the coldest period of the last maximum maximum (26.500195,000 years ago).