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.
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