Oldest figurative painting in Indonesia reshapes human history
An extraordinary discovery was made in Indonesia. In the province of South Sulawesi, scientists have found the oldest figurative painting in the world. "This is the oldest evidence of storytelling," said a professor from an Australian university.
4 July 2024 12:46
The paintings in the caves of Karampuang Hill on the island of Sulawesi depict a wild pig and three human figures. Scientists, led by Prof. Adhis Agus Oktaviana, an Indonesian rock art specialist from the National Research and Innovation Agency in Jakarta, confirm that the paintings are at least 52,300 years old. They are more than five thousand years older than the previously known cave art.
An extraordinary discovery
According to Prof. Maxime Aubert from Griffith University in Australia, the discovery will change our understanding of human evolution. "The found painting tells a complex story," the researcher stated.
"This is the oldest evidence of storytelling. It is the oldest such work of human hands. This shows that humans at the time had the capacity to think in abstract terms," Aubert added.
Scientists emphasize that there are older examples of drawings, such as those found on rocks in the Blombos caves in South Africa. They date back 75,000 or, according to some sources, 100,000 years. However, those consist of geometric patterns rather than paintings, like the one discovered in Indonesia.
A work of rock art
The pig depicted in the painting has a partially open mouth. The largest of the human figures is stretching out its arms and seems to be holding a stick. The second figure is painted directly in front of the pig and appears to have a stick that may be touching the animal's throat. The third figure is depicted upside down, with one of its hands reaching towards the pig's head.
