Processing ochre in the Middle Stone Age: Testing the inference of prehistoric behaviours from actualistically derived experimental data

► Modern and 'symbolic' human behaviour emerged during the African Middle Stone Age. ► The habitual use of red ochre is a defining aspect of 'modern' human behaviour. ► Diverse symbolic and utilitarian interpretations have been proposed for ochre. ► Actualistic experiments with ochre can clarify the emergence of 'modern' behaviour. ► An experimental database is developed for comparative archaeological analyses.