Archaeologists have found the oldest lipstick dating back 4,000 years, noting its quality

The rare find is “probably the earliest” sample of lipstick to be scientifically documented and analyzed, researchers reported in February in the journal Scientific Reports.

According to CNN, more than 80% of the sample analyzed consisted of the minerals that give it its dark red color – primarily hematite. The mixture also contained manganite and brownite, which have dark hues, as well as traces of other minerals and waxy substances derived from vegetables and other organic matter.

“Both the intensity of the red coloring minerals and the waxy substances, surprisingly, are completely compatible with modern lipstick recipes,” the study authors noted.

According to the study’s lead author Massimo Vidale, an archaeologist at the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Padua in Italy, it is impossible to rule out the possibility that the cosmetics were used in other ways, such as blush. But he said the uniform dark red color, the ingredients used and the shape of the bottle “led us to believe that the product was applied to the lips.”

It was one of the first examples of ancient red cosmetics studied, he said, although it was unclear why lipstick-like cosmetics were rare in the archaeological record.

“At this point we have no idea. The dark red color we found is the first we came across, while several lighter foundations and eyeshadows have been identified previously,” said Massimo Vidale.

According to Joanne Fletcher, a professor in the department of archeology at the University of York, the use of hematite – ground red ocher – has been documented on stone cosmetic palettes from the late Neolithic era, as well as in ancient Egyptian cosmetic vessels. Whether the bottle from Iran was the earliest lipstick, “it all comes down to what this new discovery was actually used for,” she said.

“It is possible that the contents of the bottle were used as lip paint. But they could also be applied to add color to the cheeks or for some other purpose, even if the bottle looks like a modern tube of lipstick,” notes Fletcher.

It is “very likely” that the artifact was a lipstick, agrees Lawrence Totelin, professor of ancient history at Cardiff University’s School of History, Archeology and Religion, who specializes in Greek and Roman science, technology and medicine.

“As the authors note, the recipe is no different from the modern one. The dark red color is what we would expect from a lip makeup look,” Totelin said. “However, the ingredients are also regularly found in the preparation of ancient medicines, and the bottle is shaped to be compatible with pharmaceutical use.”

Other products previously discovered in Egypt and the Middle East and studied by archaeologists included black eyeliner and lighter formulations used as eyeshadow or foundation, CNN highlights. Unlike other ancient cosmetics, the bottle contained low lead content. The researchers speculated that these low levels may mean that lipstick makers understood the dangers of consuming lead, a naturally occurring toxic metal that can cause numerous health problems.

“There has been a long and fierce debate among experts about the toxicity of lead compounds in cosmetics,” says Massimo Vidale.

Earlier studies of artifacts from the same region, with which Vidale worked, “suggest that 5,000 years ago white lead was the main material for facial foundations, while our dark red preparation, presumably intended for lips, contains almost there was no lead. Perhaps it was a conscious choice,” he said.

The preparation contained particles of quartz from ground sand or crystal, perhaps added, as the study suggested, as a “shimmering agent” – although they may have come from inside the bottle itself, which was artfully crafted from a greenish stone called chlorite.

It is also unclear what the original consistency of the cosmetic product was – liquid or more solid, admits Massimo Vidale.

“The bottle’s thin shape and limited thickness suggest that it could have been comfortably held in one hand along with the copper/bronze mirror handle, leaving the other hand free to use a brush or other type of applicator,” the study authors write, citing ancient Egyptian papyrus. , dating from the 12th century BC, which shows an example of a young woman painting her lips in this manner.

The artifact was among thousands of objects found in Bronze Age tombs in Iran’s Jiroft region. The graves – part of an ancient kingdom known as Marhasi – were discovered and moved in 2001 when a river flooded, after which their precious contents were looted and sold by local residents. Many stone and copper objects, including the vial, were subsequently recovered by Iranian security forces.

The vial is kept at the Jiroft National Archaeological Museum, where the team took samples.

“Like a bolt from the blue, this civilization was discovered when a catastrophic flood struck its ancient cemeteries, revealing all sorts of archaeological treasures,” Vidale said.

“The region is now well protected, but serious damage has been caused,” he added. “What we know today is that it was an advanced civilization similar to Mesopotamia, a major player in long-distance trade and military enterprises, which used its own writing system and was ruled by large cities and powerful, authoritative rulers. The rest is gradually becoming clear from new excavations.”

It is unclear who may have used the lipstick – or in what context. “As far as we know, cosmetics were regularly applied to the faces of the dead in graves at that time,” Vidale said.

However, given the looting and destruction of graves, researchers were unable to link the artifact to specific human remains.