Neanderthals were using paint 250,000 years ago - 'thousands of years earlier than previously thought'

Neanderthals were using paint 250,000 years ago - 'thousands of years earlier than previously thought': "Neanderthals were using red paint up to 250,000 years ago - far earlier than previously thought.

Traces of the paint, made from ochre, were dug up in the Netherlands and dated to a quarter of a million years ago.

Scientists are keeping an open mind as to what the sub-species of humans did with it back then although it is often considered a sign of symbolic behaviour such as artwork and body painting."