The discovery of 75, 000-year-old Nassarius shell beads at Blombos Cave in South Africa challenged this idea.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Study reveals 'oldest jewellery'

But there are, according to Mr Henshilwood, many more caves to explore and excavate near Blombos, so more art may turn up.

ECONOMIST: A cave in South Africa may rewrite human history

The Blombos cave and the Diepkloof rock shelter in South Africa have turned up ostrich shells and pieces of ochre with ornate markings that date back 60, 000 years ago.

FORBES: Human Ingenuity: A 100,000-Year-Old Story

In the Blombos Cave, over the years he and his team have painstakingly unearthed beads likely used by humans on necklaces 75, 000 years ago, bone tools dating back 80, 000 years and the world's earliest known painting kit.

CNN: African roots of the human family tree