Ancient Humans Used Indigo Plant 34,000 Years Ago: First Evidence of Non-Food Plant Processing Found in Georgia [View all]

34,000-year-old indigo plant residues found in Georgia’s Dzudzuana Cave reveal that prehistoric humans processed plants for more than just food.

In a remarkable breakthrough, archaeologists have found the world’s earliest direct evidence of indigo plant processing at the Paleolithic site of Dzudzuana Cave in Georgia. Traces of Isatis tinctoria, also known as dyer’s woad, were detected on stone grinding tools dating back 32,000 to 34,000 years, proving that early Homo sapiens used plants not only for food but also for medicine and dye production.

The study, published in PLOS ONE and led by researchers from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice in collaboration with international partners, employed a cutting-edge, multi-analytical approach.

Scientists combined microscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and synchrotron-based micro-CT scanning to identify tiny blue residues trapped within the pores of stone pebbles. These residues were confirmed to contain indigotin, the chromophore responsible for the iconic blue color of indigo dye.

Plants Beyond Food: A Forgotten Chapter of Prehistoric Life
For decades, narratives of the Paleolithic have focused primarily on stone tools and animal bones, since these materials survive longer in the archaeological record. This has often left plants in the shadows, creating what researchers call the “missing majority” of prehistory. Yet, plants were essential for survival and innovation, providing not only food but also fibers, medicine, poisons, and dyes.

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