Perhaps these were painted by Neanderthal women. Women, after all, like to decorate the cave ... men would be just as happy to leave it in the same condition in which they found it. I certainly know a lot of single guys still living in undecorated caves, with nothing except a huge TV on a milk crate, and some old bucket seats.
Or these might have been painted by Neanderthal women as a form of shopping list. “Don’t forget to bring home a few seals, dear. We’ll eat them for dinner, and I could also use a new coat.”
Or, they may have been preparing for Global Warming and wanted to leave an archive for any survivors. (us)