February 2012 PMID 22308348

Use of red ochre by early Neandertals.

Wil Roebroeks, Mark J Sier, Trine Kellberg Nielsen, Dimitri De Loecker, Josep Maria Parés, Charles E S Arps, Herman J Mücher

Mentions

95
Peak: 11 in May 2023
across 6 sources since Jun 2022

Extended reach

619,010
potential audience

Total likes

12,411

Video views

494,807

Mentions per month

Jun 2022 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News54 articles
  • Blogs17 articles
  • X / Twitter14 posts
  • Facebook6 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a balanced curiosity about the implications of the archaeological findings, with some posts referencing specific sites and artifacts, such as hematite droplets and their potential uses, which demonstrate a deeper engagement. The tone varies from supportive to slightly skeptical, emphasizing the discovery’s significance in understanding early human behavior.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the significance of the discovery, with some expressing skepticism about the interpretation of the findings.

InterestModerate interest

The discussions show moderate interest, highlighting the importance of Neandertal behavior and early resource use.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants reference specific excavation details and previous studies, indicating a thoughtful level of engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The topic is viewed as moderately impactful, as it challenges previous assumptions about Neandertal cognitive abilities and resource planning.

Abstract in brief

  • The study reports the discovery of the earliest known use of red ochre by Neandertals, dating back to at least 200,000-250,000 years ago, which is much older than previous finds in Europe.
  • The reddish material identified as hematite was found at Maastricht-Belvédère in the Netherlands and was likely imported from a distant source, indicating some level of resource planning or transport.
  • This discovery suggests that Neandertals used red ochre much earlier than previously thought, aligning their behavior with early African populations that also used ochre around the same time period.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
John Hawks
@johnhawks · X

During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools before 200,000 years ago, archaeologists found small droplets of hematite, powdered and mixed into a liquid. Roebroeks et al. 2012 https://t.co/eKiE97m9YN https://t.co/3A3u56dCf7

May 28, 2023 · 74 likes · 10 shares · 28,304 followers View post →
anaryl
@anaryl · X

@skippywhiteside Yes. https://t.co/RFUsBK03ED

Jun 8, 2023 · 1 like · 833 followers View post →
PaleoAnthropology+
@Qafzeh · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 50,414 followers View post →
Agustín Fuentes
@Anthrofuentes · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 12,844 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 10,376 followers View post →
Nubia Watu
@nubia_watu · X

https://t.co/vAK2rYTpmC - Use of red ochre by early Neandertals "Middle Paleolithic sites occasionally contain pieces of manganese and iron oxides" "for instance, as (internal and external) medication, as a food preservative, in tanning of hides, and as insect repellent"

Jun 13, 2022 · 9,899 followers View post →

All mentions

bob the burner
@02percent_ · X

@Phillip05166897 @itsluluthebaby @GeologicalSETI @AnthropoTube Okay, I’m done with you. You insist on long form, multi posting with links to papers, but you clearly haven’t done enough research. https://t.co/pNKCAHaD4w https://t.co/7ozApnCS63.

Sep 24, 2025 · 118 followers View post →
anaryl
@anaryl · X

@skippywhiteside Yes. https://t.co/RFUsBK03ED

Jun 8, 2023 · 1 like · 833 followers View post →
E. A. Meigs/Dreamer Books: An Ice Age Saga
@DreamerLit00 · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 72 followers View post →
dine thierry
@titidine · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 577 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 29, 2023 · 10 shares · 10,376 followers View post →
CaveArtTourSpain
@CaveArtTour · X

Use of red ochre by early Neandertals https://t.co/QSQzbpZ3jO

May 28, 2023 · 420 followers View post →
MrGrentch
@SirGrentch · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 219 followers View post →
aras hitchens
@NjtAras · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 979 followers View post →
Agustín Fuentes
@Anthrofuentes · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 12,844 followers View post →
Griselda Mussett
@griseldamussett · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 6,422 followers View post →
PaleoAnthropology+
@Qafzeh · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 50,414 followers View post →
Bridger
@mclo_Bridger · X

RT @johnhawks: During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools…

May 28, 2023 · 10 shares · 2,527 followers View post →
John Hawks
@johnhawks · X

During excavation of an ancient surface of the Maastricht-Belvédère site, Netherlands, where early Neandertals flaked tools before 200,000 years ago, archaeologists found small droplets of hematite, powdered and mixed into a liquid. Roebroeks et al. 2012 https://t.co/eKiE97m9YN https://t.co/3A3u56dCf7

May 28, 2023 · 74 likes · 10 shares · 28,304 followers View post →
Nubia Watu
@nubia_watu · X

https://t.co/vAK2rYTpmC - Use of red ochre by early Neandertals "Middle Paleolithic sites occasionally contain pieces of manganese and iron oxides" "for instance, as (internal and external) medication, as a food preservative, in tanning of hides, and as insect repellent"

Jun 13, 2022 · 9,899 followers View post →