Font size:
Print
Discovery of World’s Oldest Cave Art Showing Humans & Pig
Context: Scientists discovered the oldest figurative cave art on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The painting, found in Leang Karampuang cave, is at least 51,200 years old.
About the Painting
- Discovered on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and is at least 51,200 years old, surpassing previous oldest cave art by more than 5,000 years.
- It features a pig surrounded by three smaller human-like figures.
- The pig is painted in a single shade of dark red pigment, and the figures are also depicted in the same colour.
Narrative and Interaction in the Painting
- The painting shows a pig standing with its mouth partly open and at least three human-like figures interacting with it.
- The largest human figure appears to be holding a rod, while the second figure seems to be holding a stick near the pig’s throat.
- The third human-like figure is upside-down with its legs facing up and splayed outwards, reaching towards the pig’s head.
- The way the figures are placed and interact suggests they are telling a detailed story.
Significance of the Discovery
- This discovery pushes back the time that modern humans first showed the capacity for creative thought and storytelling.
- The painting is considered the oldest evidence of narrative storytelling through visual art.
- It shows that early humans had the mental capacity for abstract thinking and representational art.
Implications for Human Evolution
- This discovery challenges the previous notion that the creative explosion leading to art and science began in Europe.
- The findings reinforce the idea that narrative storytelling was a crucial part of early human culture in Indonesia from a very early point in time.
New Dating Technique
- The new dating method, involving laser analysis of calcium carbonate deposits, has enabled more accurate dating of the cave art.
- This technique is expected to lead to re-dating of cave art sites around the world, potentially pushing back the emergence of representational art even further.
Do You Know?
The first evidence for drawing was found on rocks in the Blombos Caves in southern Africa.
It dates back to between 75,000 to 100,000 years ago and consists of geometric patterns.
