New research has identified the world’s oldest known rock art, dating back over 67,800 years, from a cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia. This discovery provides insight into early human migrations and artistic expression, revealing a significant aspect of our ancestors’ cultural heritage. The study, published in the journal Nature, indicates that the art predates previously known cave paintings in the region by approximately 16,600 years.
The rock art features a stencil of a human hand that bears a claw-like appearance, discovered in the Liang Metanduno cave. According to study author Maxime Aubert from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research at Griffith University in Australia, this finding suggests that Sulawesi hosted one of the world’s richest artistic traditions, originating from the island’s earliest human inhabitants.
The significance of Sulawesi extends beyond its artistic contributions. The island likely played a crucial role as a stepping stone for Homo sapiens migrating from Asia to Sahul, the now-submerged landmass that once connected Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania. The research team’s focus on this area aims to shed light on the routes taken by early humans.
In their ongoing investigation, the researchers examined various stencils and paintings across Sulawesi. Among these, the oldest stencil was found in the cave on the island of Muna, altered to appear claw-like. The team employed advanced dating techniques, including uranium-series dating and mineral deposit analysis, to establish this age. They concluded that the stencil was created by an Homo sapiens artist likely related to the ancestors of contemporary Aboriginal Australians.
“It is very likely that the people who made these paintings were part of the broader population that would later spread through the region and ultimately reach Australia,” stated Adhi Agus Oktaviana from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency. This discovery aligns with the hypothesis that the ancestors of the First Australians had arrived in Sahul by around 65,000 years ago.
The findings challenge previous timelines regarding the arrival of Homo sapiens in Sahul, which suggested two competing narratives: a “long chronology” of around 65,000 years and a “short chronology” of approximately 50,000 years. Earlier research indicated that these early humans may have traveled via two distinct island-hopping routes—one through Sulawesi and the other through Timor—before reaching the Australian continent.
The Liang Metanduno cave also contains younger rock art, indicating a prolonged period of human occupation of at least 35,000 years. This evidence supports the notion of a sustained presence of modern humans in the region, enriching the historical narrative of human migration patterns.
“This discovery provides the oldest direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along this northern migration corridor into Sahul,” noted Renaud Joannes-Boyau from the Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research Group at Southern Cross University in Australia.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to continue exploring other potential archaeological sites along the northern route into Sahul. “These discoveries underscore the archaeological importance of the many other Indonesian islands between Sulawesi and New Guinea,” Aubert remarked, emphasizing the vast potential for further research in this region.
The findings from this study not only deepen our understanding of early human migrations but also highlight the rich artistic heritage that has persisted through millennia. As researchers continue to uncover new evidence, the story of our ancient ancestors becomes increasingly intricate and fascinating, revealing the interconnectedness of human history across vast distances and time.
