AI Insight
Researchers have found evidence that ancient murals painted on cliffs in China, dating back nearly 2000 years, may have been created using human blood as a binding ingredient. Chemical analysis of the rock paintings suggests that organic compounds consistent with blood proteins helped the pigments adhere to the rock surface. This macabre component may explain the exceptional preservation of these artworks despite exposure to weathering over two millennia.
Why it matters
Understanding the composition of ancient paints provides insight into historical artistic techniques and cultural practices. The discovery could inform modern conservation efforts for ancient rock art and potentially reveal information about the ritualistic or symbolic significance of these murals in their original cultural context.
Understand the Science
Macabre ingredient may have helped murals on Chinese cliffs survive nearly 2000 years of weathering
Source: Were these ancient rock images painted with human blood?