2,700-Year-Old Makeup From Iran Reveals Earliest Use of Graphite in Kohl

2,700-Year-Old Makeup From Iran Reveals Earliest Use of Graphite in Kohl

A 2,700-year-old burial in Iran uncovers makeup with graphite kohl. Credit: Silvia Amicone / CC BY 4.0 Researchers have discovered the earliest known use of graphite in ancient eye makeup, kohl, shedding new light on cosmetic practices in Iron Age Iran. A 2,700-year-old burial at the Kani Koter cemetery in northwestern Iran contained a ceramic vessel filled with a black powder made from manganese and natural graphite—the key ingredients of what …

2,700-year-old kohl from Iran reveals first known use of graphite in ancient eye makeup

One of the most fascinating discoveries in northwestern Iran is providing a glimpse into the personal grooming habits of Iron Age elites—and it all comes down to a small pot of ancient eyeliner. The cosmetics containers from Kani Koter. Image courtesy of Dr. Shelir Amelirad Researchers analyzed a sample of kohl, a traditional eye makeup used throughout the ancient Middle East, from an Iron Age burial site at Kani Koter in Iran’s Kurdistan Provin…