The earliest known synthetic pigment, Egyptian blue is found in some of the paint that still colors ancient statues, coffins, and tomb walls. Modern scientists were intrigued by this long-lasting ...

Published March 18 | Read More | What did ancient Roman artists use to paint Pompeii ... even seemingly pure pigments were mixtures, with Egyptian blue and red lead being fundamental.

They're ancient Egyptian, more ancient even than the pharaohs ... And on them you can still see very faint traces of black-and-white paint applied after the clay had been lightly baked.