News|Arts and CultureWorld’s oldest cave art discovered in Indonesia’s Muna islandIndonesia and the surrounding region is known for some of the world’s most ancient archaeological finds.
Recent archaeological findings indicate that handprints stenciled on limestone caves on the Indonesian island of Muna are potentially 67,800 years old. This discovery identifies them as the oldest known paintings globally.
Recent archaeological findings indicate that handprints stenciled on limestone caves on the Indonesian island of Muna are potentially 67,800 years old. This discovery identifies them as the oldest known paintings globally.
The tan-colored drawings were created by blowing pigment over hands placed against the cave walls, leaving an outline. This technique was analyzed by Indonesian and Australian researchers.
Archaeologist Adhi Agus Oktaviana from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has been investigating hand stencils within the Muna island region since 2015. The hand stencils were discovered beneath newer paintings depicting a person riding a horse and a chicken.
Initially, there was skepticism regarding the interpretation of the stencils as handprints. However, further examination revealed distinct features resembling human fingers, while some fingertips appeared deliberately modified to look pointed.
Recent archaeological findings indicate that handprints stenciled on limestone caves on the Indonesian island of Muna are potentially 67,800 years old.
Maxime Aubert, a specialist in archaeological science at Griffith University, notes that the oldest hand stencil is unique to the Sulawesi region with reshaped fingertips. Aubert and co-author Adam Brumm suggest that the hand images may have been intended to represent something other than human hands, such as animal claws.
Uranium-thorium dating was employed to determine the minimum age of the images. This technique involved analyzing small calcite samples from the cave walls, providing a precise minimum age for the paintings. The research confirmed that the Muna caves have been used for rock art over extended periods, with some art painted over thousands of years later.
This discovery predates previous artworks found in the Sulawesi region by over 15,000 years. The region is recognized for its ancient archaeological finds, comparable to neighboring East Timor and Australia. The findings support theories of early human migration through Sulawesi and suggest that early humans were both adept sailors and artists.
In related contexts, Aboriginal Australians have one of the oldest continuous cultures, with archaeological evidence dating back at least 60,000 years. Notably, Murujuga in northwestern Australia, home to an estimated one million petroglyphs, including rock carvings potentially dating back 50,000 years, was recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.