Early humans used a variety of natural materials to create cave paintings. These materials were typically sourced from their immediate environment and included:

1. Mineral Pigments: Common minerals used for pigments included ochre (for red and yellow hues), hematite (for red), manganese oxide (for black), and charcoal (also for black).

2. Binders: To help the pigments adhere to the cave walls, early humans might have used natural binders such as animal fat, plant sap, or water.

3. Tools: They used their fingers, brushes made from animal hair, or sticks to apply the pigments. Sometimes, they would blow the pigment through hollow bones to create a spray effect.

These materials allowed early humans to create the vivid and enduring images that we can still see in caves today, such as those found in Lascaux, France, and Altamira, Spain.