Making paintings in south central California: a qualitative methodology for differentiating between in situ red rock art pigments using portable XRF

Abstract

Five Chumash rock art sites in the Wind Wolves Preserve, California, were examined using portable Xray
fluorescence analysis in order to compare red pigments used, differentiate between pigments and
painting events, and discuss the implications of this information. The results showed that the technique
was successful in identifying different pigments and that multiple pigments were used within each rock art
panel and within individual elements. These results indicate the presence of multiple artists or episodes of
retouching over time, and potentially a less exclusive role for rock art than some have suggested
previously.