Mineral and natural colorings were made use of by both Neanderthals and Humankind Have actually appeared minimal to the usage of only black and red-yellow hued pigments obtaining from charcoal, manganese dioxides and a range of ochres (iron oxides).

These are well-documented throughout various continents for a huge selection of activities.

In the European Middle Paleolithic (c. 300,000-40,000 years ago), Neanderthals appear to have actually utilized ochres and manganese dioxide for not just practical functions, such as substance adhesives or for fire-lighting, however in addition for symbolic practices, possibly and controversially consisting of producing cave/rock art.

In Homo sapiens, pigment usage emerged a minimum of 100,000 years earlier and has actually been associated to the introduction of ‘behavioral modernity’, viewed as a trademark of cognitive intricacy.

The strength of pigment usage throughout the Upper Paleolithic appears inconsistent to a limited usage of charcoals, manganese dioxide and ochres, and raises crucial concerns relating to the lack of blue pigments.

Previously, just one case of a copper-based blue-green pigment has actually been tape-recorded for the Paleolithic from embellished anthropomorphic figurines at the website of Mal’ta in Siberia (c. 19,000-23,000 years ago).

No blue pigment usage has actually been formerly taped in the European Paleolithic.

“Our discovery challenges what we believed we understood about Paleolithic pigment usage,” stated Aarhus University archaeologist Izzy Wisher.

In their research study, Dr. Wisher and associates determined the blue pigment on a stone artifact with a concave, bowl-like morphology from the Paleolithic (c. 14,000-11,700 year ago) outdoor website of Mühlheim-Dietesheim in Germany.

This represent the very first and earliest example of blue pigment usage from the European Upper Paleolithic.

“The existence of azurite reveals that Paleolithic individuals had a deep understanding of mineral pigments and might access a much wider color scheme than we formerly believed– and they might have been selective in the method they utilized particular colors,” Dr. Wisher stated.

“The stone bearing the azurite traces was initially analyzed as an open-circuit light.”

“Now, it appears to have actually been a blending surface area or combination for preparing blue pigments– meaning creative or cosmetic customs that stay mostly unnoticeable today.”

The findings advise a rethink of Paleolithic art and color usage, opening brand-new opportunities for checking out how early people revealed identity, status, and beliefs through products much more different and lively than formerly envisioned.

“We assume that azurite was most likely utilized in the Upper Paleolithic to a much higher degree than hitherto presumed, based upon its existence at Mühlheim-Dietesheim and its most likely ease of access in the landscape,” the scientists stated.

“It is possible that azurite usage was limited to activities that do not maintain well in the historical record.”

“Blue pigments were seemingly not utilized to embellish cavern walls nor portable art things in the European Paleolithic however might rather have actually been utilized to embellish the body.”

“Our outcomes motivate a vital factor to consider of making use of color throughout the Upper Paleolithic to figure out why particular shades were utilized– or not utilized– for various creative practices.”

The outcomes were released today in the journal Antiquity

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Izzy Wisher et alThe earliest proof of blue pigment usage in Europe. Antiquityreleased online September 29, 2025; doi: 10.15184/ aqy.2025.10184