Home News Oldest Known Artwork Discovered in Indonesian Cave Shows Cave Art Originated In Africa
NewsWorld

Oldest Known Artwork Discovered in Indonesian Cave Shows Cave Art Originated In Africa

303

Scientists have uncovered what is believed to be the world’s oldest artwork in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The painting, which measures 92cm by 38cm, is estimated to be around 51,200 years old. It depicts three figures gathered around a large red pig and is considered the earliest evidence of storytelling.

The research, published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, detailed the discovery inside the Leang Karampuang cave in South Sulawesi. Despite being in poor condition, the painting clearly showed the interaction between the figures, indicating a deliberate attempt to convey a story.

“This discovery suggests that storytelling and advanced artistic expression existed much earlier than previously thought,” Adam Brumm, an archaeologist at Griffith University and one of the study’s authors said.

The team used a new scientific method to date the artwork by analysing calcium carbonate crystals that naturally formed on the painting. This technique revealed the painting’s minimum age, pushing back the timeline of narrative art.

Previously, the oldest known narrative art was thought to have originated in Europe. However, this discovery challenges that notion because it suggests that representational art might have first emerged in Africa and spread as humans migrated.

“This finding drives home the point that Europe was not the birthplace of cave art, as long believed,” Brumm added.

Owing to the discovery, some archaeologists predict that even older samples might be discovered in the future.

 

Read also: China’s Chang’e-6 Probe Starts Return With First-ever Samples From Moon’s Far Side.

China Archives First-ever Sample Retrieval From Far Side Of The Moon

India’s X Alternative, Koo, Shuts Down Due to Funding Shortages

About The Author

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

NIMC Nigerians
News

NIMC Instructs Nigerians to Pay for New National ID Cards As FG Lacks Funding

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will have...

FinanceNews

Burkina Faso Introduces New Mining Regulations to Boost Revenue and Limit Foreign Exploitation

Burkina Faso’s Council of Ministers has finalised the legal framework of the...

Niger Gold Dan Issa
News

Niger: Government Reopens Dan Issa Gold Mining Site 3 Years After Mine Collapse

The Nigerien government has officially approved the exploitation of a gold mine...

News

Thugs Reportedly Linked to MC Oluomo Disrupt Bus Conductors Association Event in Abuja

Thugs disrupted the inauguration of the Bus Conductors Association of Nigeria (BCAN)...