2-737-272 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Palette in the Form of a Turtle, c. 3500-3050 BC. Stone palettes were used for grinding eyepaint worn by men and women alike for cosmetic purposes and to protect against sun glare and eye infections. There were two types of eyepaint: green, made from malachite (copper ore), and black, made from galena (lead ore). Small quantities of ore are sometimes found in graves alongside the palettes.