A study led by Rimtautas Dapschauskas found evidence that humans were using ocher pigments at sites across southern and eastern Africa between 500,000 and 330,000 years ago, according to IFLScience.
"Ocher use is so old, at least as old as our species itself," said Dapschauskas, an expert on the evolutionary origin of rituals at the University of Tübingen and the University of Heidelberg, according to a report by IFLScience. Prehistoric humans extensively used ocher, a natural earth pigment composed of clay, sand, and iron oxide, which imparts a characteristic rusty hue.
Starting approximately 160,000 years ago, the use of ocher became a habitual cultural practice across southern, eastern, and northern Africa. Although brown and earthy tones were more readily available, evidence indicates that humans had a clear preference for vibrant red ocher. Ancient people went to great lengths to source and process the finest red ocher, often traveling great distances despite the pigment offering no immediate survival benefits.
"Some of the behaviors in the archaeological record are really costly. Sometimes people walked more than 100 kilometers just to get high-quality material that they were not using for practical purposes—not for eating, not for hunting, not for shelter—but for non-utilitarian purposes, whatever they may be," explained Dapschauskas.
Many archaeologists believe that red ocher was primarily used for body painting. Early humans applied the pigment to their skin, demonstrating the aesthetic and symbolic importance of the color red in their societies. The frequent use of red ocher in body painting demonstrates its ritualistic and symbolic meanings. It is easy to envision rituals where people stained their skin with scarlet pigment, engaging in rhythmic movements to evoke instinctive responses.
When humans began creating cave paintings, red ocher was the medium of choice for adorning cave walls. The wall paintings found in European caves, such as those in Lascaux, stand as examples of the creative and expressive power of the color red, underscoring its significance in art history. These artworks evolved from simple stencils to figurative depictions of animals, humans, and other aspects of reality, yet the color palette remained dominated by rusty browns, charcoal blacks, and rich reds.
The use of red ocher in Paleolithic art reflects an evolutionary basis for the color's impact on humans, as it evokes strong psychological reactions. The effect of red on humans may stem from both historical and evolutionary processes, directly relating to basic instincts like survival and reproduction due to its association with blood.
"Blood is red in most vertebrates. It has an inherent signaling property, even in other species. There's something really deep evolutionary going on," noted Dapschauskas, according to a report by IFLScience. Research has shown that red elicits subconscious reactions, leading to strong emotional responses.
Studies on monkeys suggest that red stimuli can provoke responses conn
ected to their most powerful desires: food and sex. Red plays a role in social signaling and mate selection among primates, evident in features like the rosy backsides of baboons. Additionally, red assists primates in spotting ripe fruit amid green foliage.
"I think the initial motivation to use blood red pigment stemmed from this very primordial and ancient psychological effect which the color has on our perception. It's something very, very ancient. And I think that early Homo sapiens or their predecessors were attracted to this material because of this ancient psychological reaction," said Dapschauskas, according to a report by IFLScience.
Red served as a tool that united people, fueled by rituals and symbolism as humans developed complex social behaviors. It was a means of forming social identity, as seen in its historical use in contexts—from the robes of Catholic cardinals to revolutionary flags. The consistent preference for red ocher, despite the availability of other pigments like yellow ocher and black manganese, illustrates its importance.
Humans have been captivated by the color red throughout their existence, and they carried this fascination with them as they migrated from Africa. Upon leaving the continent approximately 60,000 to 70,000 years ago, humans brought their knowledge of colors and how to utilize them. Ocher became widely used across Eurasia and Australasia, where it was readily found in cliffs, seashores, and caverns.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq