Archaeologists Find Oldest Rock Art in Indonesian Cave

Archaeologists dated hand stencils on cave walls at Liang Metaduno, Muna island, using uranium‑thorium analysis and report a minimum age of about 67,800 years. The study says these images could be the oldest known rock art and may relate to early maritime movements across Wallacea into Sahul.

Archaeologists reported ancient hand stencils on the limestone walls of a cave at Liang Metaduno on Muna island in Indonesia. The team sampled calcite crusts that formed over the paintings and used uranium‑thorium analysis to establish a minimum age. Most of the hand stencils were dated to the Pleistocene and include tapered fingertips. Researchers say the findings may connect to early human movement across Wallacea toward Sahul about 65,000 years ago. Key findings: - Calcite layers deposited over the stencils were dated by uranium‑thorium methods to a minimum age of about 67,800 years. - The cave imagery includes multiple hand stencils with tapered fingertips; animal and geometric motifs in the same cave were generally younger. - Most hand stencils were made during the Pleistocene, and some were partly obscured by later paintings. - It is not certain whether the images were made by Homo sapiens or another hominin; the lead researcher interprets the hand form and modification as consistent with modern humans. - The presence of very old painted imagery is reported as consistent with early maritime journeys through Wallacea into Sahul. Summary: The discovery adds evidence that painted rock imagery in Sulawesi dates back at least 67,800 years and may be among the oldest known examples of such art. Researchers reported that this timing aligns with genetic and archaeological views of early seafaring into Sahul and said similar-aged rock art might be found at other locations along northern routes to Sahul; Undetermined at this time.