Neanderthal Ochre Crayons Reveal Ancient Symbolic Behaviour!
New research from Crimea and Ukraine is shedding light on the creative side of our ancient cousins, the Neanderthals. Scientists have uncovered evidence that these early humans weren’t just using ochre for practical reasons such as tanning hides or preserving tools, but were also shaping and using it for symbolic or artistic expression.
In a study published in Science Advances, researchers analysed 16 ochre fragments from several Middle Palaeolithic sites, some dating back as far as 70,000 years. The fragments revealed clear signs of deliberate shaping, grinding, and engraving, suggesting they had been used as marking tools rather than for purely functional tasks.
Photo Credit: d’Errico et al., Science Advances (2025); CC BY 4.0
Among the finds were three particularly striking pieces. One yellow ochre fragment, about 4.5 centimetres long, had been carefully shaped into a crayon-like tool with a pointed end. Microscopic analysis showed that it had been repeatedly sharpened and bore signs of pressure wear, strong evidence that it had been used to draw or mark surfaces.
Another red ochre fragment appeared to have come from a larger crayon-shaped piece, while a third flat, orange fragment displayed polished surfaces and engraved grooves, indications of intentional design and reuse.
These details suggest that Neanderthals weren’t merely preparing materials for everyday survival. Instead, they were actively engaging in creative or symbolic activities, using colour to make marks that may have carried meaning or identity within their groups.
Photo Credit: d’Errico et al., Science Advances (2025); CC BY 4.0
To investigate these artefacts, Francesco d’Errico and his team at the University of Bordeaux used portable X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy to study each fragment’s composition, texture, and microscopic wear patterns. Their findings revealed clear evidence of purposeful modification: grinding, scoring, and scraping that went beyond simple practical use.
The team concluded that these ochre tools were curated, maintained, and deliberately shaped, reflecting planning and cultural investment. Such behaviour hints that Neanderthals may have used markings as a way to communicate, share knowledge, or express identity.
For a long time, symbolic behaviour was thought to be unique to Homo sapiens. Yet, discoveries like these, alongside Neanderthal cave engravings and hand stencils found elsewhere in Europe, are rewriting that narrative. The existence of ochre “crayons” used by Neanderthals suggests that they, too, possessed complex cognition, creativity, and perhaps even an early sense of art.
As d’Errico and his colleagues point out, while ochre had many potential uses, some of these pieces were clearly designed for symbolic purposes. These findings provide a powerful reminder that Neanderthals were not the unimaginative brutes they were once thought to be, but intelligent humans capable of abstract thought and expression, perhaps even the world’s first artists.