Page 16 - HOH

Wednesday 13 december 2023 locAl
A10

Tera cora, legendary ocher soils Episode CCXXXVI- 236

Each week, Etnia Nativa presents a new episode con-
cerning cultural heritage, native knowledge, transcen-
dental wisdom, and the importance of defending the
true essence of our Aruba. We connect the reader with
that mystical aspect of the island’s culture and tradi-
tions, encouraging everyone to ground and interact
with our unique environment in a very special way.
In this episode, we talks about Aruba’s “tera cora,”
means “red soil” or “red earth.”

Among the different colors of the Aruban landscape,
one of them attracts particular attention, namely the
red clay earth that invades internal paths that zigzag
inland on our island, destined for spiritual awakening
and the path to one’s inner soul.

A natural pigment that is found where there is a rel-
atively large amount of iron in the ground. The iron
oxidizes and gives the soil its characteristic rust color.
It’s all about the colors we consider ochre. Although
we tend to think of a golden yellow when thinking of
ochre, it all depends on other elements also present
in the earth. So that the color can vary from yellow to
reddish and brownish, with even some slightly bluish
variants.

The word ochre is derived from the Greek ‘Ochros’,
which means ‘yellowish’. Ochre has been used since
ancient times all over the world for various purposes.
It is a pigment that is exceedingly lightfast. Ocher is situated at different points of our island sional form! As an entity dedicated to
a clay-rich pigment that contains significant amounts (see our episode XIV–14). conserving and promoting our native
of iron oxide and is the first known pigment applied by heritage, the goal of keeping ancient
ancient cultures. It is a very common find at archaeo- Ochre was a highly valued and sought- native methods alive and incorporat-
logical sites. The first possible use of ocher was discov- after commodity among the indig- ing cultural philosophies intact has a
ered at a Homo erectus site about 285,000 years ago. enous people of our island. Finding cultural responsibility of its own.
the best red ochre was also cloaked Aruba’s ocher soils are poor in organic
Aruban’s native people’s association with the colors in mysticism through wonderful and al- matter due to scarce vegetation and
and tones of ocher is also inherited from the island’s most mystical walking inland. Only one constant wind erosion, but rich in an-
first inhabitants. man had access to the ochre sites. cestral stories as they are legendary
Etnia Nativa’s intent to solve the ochre’s mystery starts Situation that was common among soils.
during a trek through the arid soil of Aruba, as men- all the aboriginal tribes of the Ameri-
tioned in our episode CIV-104 of “Island Insight,” ex- can continent. A curiosity is that the So if you are interested in really getting
plaining how diverse shades of ochre color can be name’redskins’ is also related to ocher. to know all about your travel destina-
seen in prehistoric cave paintings, on pottery deco- Like many other ancient peoples, tion: the flora, fauna, geology, history,
ration as geometric ceramic designs, in lime stone these Native Americans also rubbed and autochthonous art, as well as the
caves, granite boulder surfaces, as well as rock art their skin with red ocher, just as others true identity of the island, book a visit
did with Annatto (Bixa Orellana L.; see to Etnia Nativa, a unique native gem!
our episode 233). Let Anthony, our newspaper’s ac-
As one of our objectives is to keep an- claimed cultural columnist, guide and
cestral techniques alive, Etnia Nativa lecture you regarding the most inter-
teaches how and where to find the esting and revealing stories about Aru-
best ochre color and also how to work ba’s undiscovered native ethnicity, an
the raw clay, from digging it up—as our adventure beyond beaches and tour-
ancestors did—to enjoying molding a ist traps. Visit his magnificent dwelling
unique and exquisite piece of locally that integrates natural and reused ma-
collected clay and the best ocher pig- terials, bursting with culture and island
ment of Aruba. heritage, and you’ll love our island be-
The traditional craftsmanship that we yond beaches!
practice and teach is the most tan-
gible manifestation of Aruba’s intan- Appointments and confirmations
gible cultural heritage, through which trough WhatsApp +297 592 2702 or et-
the mysterious red color of our soil is nianativa03@gmail.com
resolved in an existential tree-dimen-