Australian scientists have discovered the world's oldest rock art on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, estimated to be about 67,800 years old.
A handprint left by an ancient artist on the wall of a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi more than 67,800 years ago is believed to be the oldest known work of rock art. The drawing shows a clear alteration of the fingers, making them appear claw-like, suggesting that the artist modified the hand shape by adding pigment or moving the hand while spraying paint.
In 2024, Professor Maxime Aubert of Griffith University in Australia announced the discovery of a 51,200-year-old figurative drawing of a pig in Sulawesi. Now, his team has announced the discovery of 44 additional cave art sites in southeastern Sulawesi.
The partially engraved handprint in Liang Matandonu Cave has been dated to 71.6 ± 3.8 thousand years, while the oldest previously known art was a Neanderthal handprint in Spain, 66,700 years old.
Aubert said the drawing shows clear signs of alteration, with the tip of one finger appearing artificially narrowed, possibly by adding pigment or by moving the hand while spraying. It's impossible to pinpoint the exact species of hominin who created the drawing, but it's most likely Homo sapiens, a close relative of the early humans who arrived in Australia, especially since evidence suggests Homo sapiens reached Australia at least 60,000 years ago.
Scientists haven't ruled out the possibility that the creators of these paintings were ancestors of the first Australians, as Sulawesi was an important stop on the route from Southeast Asia to Australia. Co-author Adam Broom also pointed out that Neanderthal and Sulawesi paintings share a similar technique: the application of red ochre.
Martin Bohr of the University of Western Australia confirmed the possibility that this discovery belonged to Homo sapiens, but stressed the need for broader studies before drawing definitive conclusions.
