Earliest Rock Art Ever Discovered in Indonesia

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in Indonesia, uncovering what may be the earliest rock art ever found in a limestone cave. The artwork, dating back approximately 67,800 years, predates previous examples by over 1,100 years.

A team of Australian and Indonesian researchers published their findings in the prestigious journal Nature. The art consists of a partial hand stencil with outlined fingers, located inside a cave on Muna, an island near Sulawesi. This discovery surpasses the previously believed oldest rock art, attributed to Neanderthals in Spain.

The cave where this ancient artwork was found also contains more recent pieces, some dating back 20,000 years. The research project was led by experts from Griffith University and Southern Cross University in Australia, with support from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency.

This discovery sheds light on the timeline of human settlement in regions that were once part of the supercontinent Sahul, which included present-day Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. The researchers believe that early inhabitants may have migrated to these areas between 50,000 and 65,000 years ago, potentially using Sulawesi as a passageway.

Lead researcher, Adam Brumm, speculates that the alterations made to the hand stencil, where the fingers were narrowed to resemble a “claw-like” hand, may reflect ancient beliefs about the connection between humans and animals. This finding brings us closer to understanding the visual culture of the Paleolithic era.

Maxime Aubert, co-leader of the study, emphasized the significance of this discovery, stating, “Sulawesi was home to one of the world’s richest and most longstanding artistic cultures, with origins dating back at least 67,800 years.”