Interdisciplinary Insights into Ochre Burial Rituals in Eastern Slovakia in the beginning of the 3rd Millennium BC

<p>This study investigates ochre from a Yamna culture grave in Michaľany, Eastern Slovakia. Radiocarbon dating resulted from 4330 ± 35 BP, calibrated to 3010–2898 BC. The grave’s construction and dating confirm its cultural attribution. SEM and Raman spectrometry identified a red substance as hematite, representing the first evidence of its use in Yamna funerary practices in this region. Geochemical analysis suggests a local origin, likely linked to low-temperature hydrothermal deposits in the nearby Brehov–Zemplín ore district. This finding provides new insights into ochre&#39;s symbolic and practical roles in Yamna funerary traditions.</p>