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The known cases of Bronze Age Argaric stained skeletons found in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, have been analysed. The various hypotheses proposed relating to the origin of these colorations have been evaluated in light of new data provided by SEM, XRD and RAMAN spectroscopic analysis carried out on five Argaric graves of Murcia and Alicante. The results have indicated the presence of ochre and cinnabar on some of the skeletons. Without discarding the possibility that both substances were used in dyeing fabrics, it is proposed that their main use was for face and body make-up, being higher the number of recorded cases on female skeletons compared to male., Se analizan los casos de esqueletos con tinciones documentados en el ámbito argárico del Sudeste de la Península Ibérica. Se evalúan las diversas hipótesis planteadas hasta el momento en relación con el origen de estas coloraciones, tomando en consideración los análisis (SEM, XRD y espectroscopía RAMAN) realizados en cinco tumbas argáricas de Murcia y Alicante que han determinado la presencia de ocre y cinabrio. Sin descartar su posible uso en el teñido de tejidos, se propone su empleo en el maquillaje facial y corporal, siendo mayor el número de casos registrados sobre esqueletos de mujeres que de hombres.

The known cases of Bronze Age Argaric stained skeletons found in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, have been analysed. The various hypotheses proposed relating to the origin of these colorations have been evaluated in light of new data provided by SEM, XRD and RAMAN spectroscopic analysis carried out on five Argaric graves of Murcia and Alicante. The results have indicated the presence of ochre and cinnabar on some of the skeletons. Without discarding the possibility that both substances were used in dyeing fabrics, it is proposed that their main use was for face and body make-up, being higher the number of recorded cases on female skeletons compared to male. Se analizan los casos de esqueletos con tinciones documentados en el ámbito argárico del Sudeste de la Península Ibérica. Se evalúan las diversas hipótesis planteadas hasta el momento en relación con el origen de estas coloraciones, tomando en consideración los análisis (SEM, XRD y espectroscopía RAMAN) realizados en cinco tumbas argáricas de Murcia y Alicante que han determinado la presencia de ocre y cinabrio. Sin descartar su posible uso en el teñido de tejidos, se propone su empleo en el maquillaje facial y corporal, siendo mayor el número de casos registrados sobre esqueletos de mujeres que de hombres.