A cave painting on an Indonesian island is believed to be the oldest known evidence of storytelling in art, researchers said on Thursday.
Scientists from Australia’s Griffith University, the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Southern Cross University discovered and dated a cave painting on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
The painting, located in a limestone cave, depicts three human-like figures interacting with a wild pig.
Scientists analysed tiny layers of calcium carbonate that had formed on top of the art to determine its age.
The results found the artwork was painted at least 51,200 years ago, making it the oldest known reliably dated cave art image in the world, and the earliest narrative art found anywhere, researchers said.
Lead researcher Adhi Agus Oktaviana said the discovery had important implications for understanding the origin of early art.
“Our results are very surprising: none of the famous European Ice Age art is anywhere near as old as this.” (DPA)
