title: Characterization of cosmetic sticks at Xiaohe Cemetery in early Bronze Age Xinjiang, China.
abstract: Cosmetics have been studied for a long time in the society and culture research, and its consumption is regarded as a cultural symbol of human society. This paper focuses on the analysis of the red cosmetic sticks, found in Xiaohe Cemetery (1980-1450BC), Xinjiang, China. The structure of the red cosmetic sticks was disclosed by SR-μCT scanning (Synchrotron Radiation Micro-computed Tomography), while the chemical components were characterized by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), Raman Spectroscopy and Proteomics. The results suggested that the cosmetic sticks were made from the cattle heart and covered with a layer of hematite powders as the pigment. Given the numerous red painted relics in Xiaohe Cemetery, this kind of cosmetic sticks might be used as a primitive form of crayon for makeup and painting. The usage of cattle hearts as cosmetic sticks is firstly reported up to our knowledge, which not only reveals the varied utilizations of cattle in Xiaohe Cemetery but also shows the distinctive religious function. Furthermore, these red cosmetic sticks were usually buried with women, implying that the woman may be the painter and play a special role in religious activities.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, People's Republic of China.|Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute, Ürümchi 830000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Idelisi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abuduresule
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute, Ürümchi 830000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute, Ürümchi 830000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xingjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Changsui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D055699:Cemeteries; D002681:China; D003358:Cosmetics; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013997:Time Factors; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; C000499:ferric oxide
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