Sulawesi cave paintings challenge origins of human art

Archaeologists have discovered ancient figurative cave paintings in Sulawesi, Indonesia, that challenge long-held theories regarding the origins of human art. Findings in the Maros-Pangkep karst region, specifically at Leang Karampuang Cave, reveal paintings of a Sulawesi warty pig and three human-like figures. Using laser-ablation uranium-series imaging to analyze calcium carbonate layers, researchers determined these artworks are at least 51,200 years old.

Other sites in the region, including Leang Maros, Leang Pangkep, and Liang Metanduno on Muna Island, have yielded findings estimated to be as old as 67,800 years. These rock art pieces include hand stencils, animal figures, and scenes depicting hunting activities. The use of natural red ochre and unique hand stencil styles, such as tapered fingers resembling animal claws, highlights the sophisticated artistic capabilities of early humans in the Wallacea region.

Experts from Hasanuddin University state that these discoveries provide critical evidence to refute the theory that the oldest cave painting traditions originated in Europe, suggesting instead that complex visual art developed much earlier in the Indonesian archipelago.