Modern technology reconstructs properties of ochre, commonly found in ancient rock art
(PHYSorg.com Archaeology & Fossils)

Ochre, one of Earth`s oldest naturally occurring materials, was often used as a vivid red paint in ancient rock art known as pictographs across the world. Despite its broad use throughout human history and a modern focus on how the artistic symbolism is interpreted, little research exists on the paint itself and how it was produced.