Origin of Religion?

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Certainly the cave paintings are referred to as being the oldest evidence of religious practices, they're also the earliest evidence of representative art - ie; something that simply a tool. This seems to be unique to Homo sapiens and isn't seen in Neanderthal sites.
In particular the 'Cerrnunnos' painting showing a figure with both human and deer features supposedly represents the first religious format.


This of course relies upon interpretation of the figure as being ceremonial rather than a hunter wearing a skin for example.
Other than that the Neandethals seem to have placed flowers and beads in graves and covered graves in red ochre which is also interpreted as being of ceremonial significance.