Archaeologists have uncovered the world’s oldest known cave paintings on Indonesia’s Muna Island. Limestone walls reveal hand stencils estimated at 67,800 years old. These artworks highlight the artistic and cultural sophistication of early humans in Southeast Asia.
Researchers from Indonesia and Australia examined tan-colored handprints created by blowing pigment over hands pressed against cave walls. Interestingly, the oldest stencil was located beneath newer paintings, including a depiction of a person riding a horse next to a chicken.
Lead researcher Adhi noted that it was initially difficult to confirm the stencils were human. However, closer examination showed clear fingertip shapes, some deliberately pointed, indicating intentional design.
Unique Artistic Style Suggests Symbolic Significance
“The oldest hand stencil is distinctive because it belongs to a style unique to Sulawesi,” explained Maxime Aubert, an archaeological science specialist. The reshaped fingertips may hold symbolic meaning, possibly representing animal claws rather than human hands.
Co-author Adam Brumm added that this detail indicates a complex symbolic relationship between ancient humans and animals. While the precise meaning remains unknown, it reflects early humans’ cultural and ritualistic depth.
Precision Dating Confirms Ancient Origins
To determine the art’s minimum age, researchers analyzed uranium in mineral layers over the pigment. Tiny calcite samples, just five millimeters wide, were lasered to measure uranium decay against stable thorium.
“This precise method allowed us to establish a clear minimum age of 67,800 years for the painting,” Aubert confirmed. The findings surpass previous cave art discoveries in nearby Sulawesi by more than 15,000 years.
The caves of Muna Island were used repeatedly over millennia, with some images added as recently as 35,000 years later. This long-standing artistic tradition demonstrates the enduring creativity of early human communities in the region.
Implications for Early Human Migration and Creativity
Adhi emphasized that these discoveries support theories of early human migration through Sulawesi. The artworks also highlight the artistic talents of our ancestors, showing they were not only skilled sailors but also imaginative creators.
Moreover, the findings provide broader evidence of ancient cultural activity across Southeast Asia. Similar artistic expressions have been documented in East Timor and Australia, where Aboriginal communities have practiced cultural traditions for over 60,000 years.
“This discovery reshapes our understanding of early humans,” Brumm noted. “It confirms that creativity and symbolic thought were integral to human life tens of thousands of years ago.”
