A cave painting in Indonesia has been declared the world’s oldest example of a ‘picture story’, estimated to be at least 51,200 years old. Discovered in the Leang Karampuang cave on the east Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the painting depicts three human-like figures and a wild pig. This discovery is nearly 6,000 years older than the previous oldest cave art found nearby on the same island.
Professor Maxime Aubert, a researcher from Griffith University in Australia, highlighted the significance of the discovery, stating that it sheds light on human creativity during evolution. He explained that the painting tells a complex story and is the oldest evidence of storytelling. It demonstrates that humans at the time possessed the capacity for abstract thought.
The research team, comprising researchers from Griffith University, Southern Cross University, and the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, published their findings in the journal *Nature*. Samples of the artwork were taken in 2017, but the dating was only completed earlier this year. The painting dethrones a 45,500-year-old image of a wild pig in a cave at Leang Tedongnge, which was previously considered the oldest figurative painting.
The painting depicts a wild pig with its mouth partly open. The largest human-like figure has outstretched arms holding a rod. The second figure, standing before the pig, also appears to hold a stick and point it at the animal’s throat. The third figure is upside down with one hand reaching towards the pig’s head.
Adam Brumm, a co-leader of the project from Griffith University, mentioned that warty pigs were common subjects in other artworks from the region, indicating their economic and possibly symbolic or spiritual importance to the people. However, the meaning of the artwork remains unclear, and the animal species used in the human-animal hybrids are yet to be identified.
The figurative representation makes this painting the earliest known example of a ‘picture story’. While archaeologists have discovered geometric art on rocks in the Blombos Caves in southern Africa dating back 75,000 to 100,000 years ago, this new finding showcases representational art.
Adhi Agus Oktaviana, the lead researcher, emphasized the importance of storytelling in early human culture in Indonesia. He stated that humans have likely been telling stories for far longer than 51,200 years, but since words don’t fossilize, we can only rely on indirect evidence like art. The Sulawesi art provides the oldest known archaeological evidence of this storytelling practice.
The dating method used in this study, involving analysis of tiny samples of calcium carbonate layers on top of the art using a laser, was also applied to art in a nearby cave, Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4. This analysis revealed the art in that cave to be 48,000 years old, 4,000 years older than previously thought.
