A recent study has confirmed the age of the oldest known rock art, dating back at least 67,800 years. Discovered in a cave on a satellite island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, this human hand stencil offers significant insights into the migration patterns of early humans. This new finding, published in the journal Nature, predates the previously oldest recorded rock art in the region by approximately 16,600 years.
The stencil, which has a claw-like appearance, was found in the Liang Metanduno cave. The research team, led by Maxime Aubert from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, emphasizes that this discovery highlights Sulawesi as a site of rich artistic heritage. “It is now evident from our new phase of research that Sulawesi was home to one of the world’s richest and most longstanding artistic cultures,” Aubert stated.
The significance of Sulawesi extends beyond its artistic contributions. The island has been proposed as a possible stepping stone for Homo sapiens as they migrated from Asia to Sahul, a paleocontinent that once connected Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania. The study’s findings suggest that the artists of these ancient stencils may have been ancestors of the Aboriginal Australians, who are believed to have reached Sahul by around 65,000 years ago.
Exploration of Rock Art and Human Movement
The research focused on various ancient rock art paintings across Sulawesi and its surrounding islands. Among these, the hand stencils in the Liang Metanduno cave were identified as the oldest, showcasing the artistic capabilities of early humans. The research team applied advanced techniques, including uranium-series dating and mineral deposit analysis, to establish the age of the stencil.
Another study author, Adhi Agus Oktaviana from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, remarked, “It is very likely that the people who made these paintings in Sulawesi were part of the broader population that would later spread through the region and ultimately reach Australia.” This assertion reinforces the idea that modern humans were present in Sahul earlier than previously established timelines.
Earlier research had proposed two potential timelines for the arrival of H. sapiens in Sahul: the “long chronology” suggesting around 65,000 years ago and the “short chronology” around 50,000 years ago. It also indicated two possible migration routes: a northern route through Sulawesi and a southern route through Timor. The findings from Liang Metanduno further support the notion that early humans occupied this northern migration corridor for over 35,000 years.
Future Research Directions
The implications of this research extend beyond just art; they provide crucial context for understanding human migration patterns. Renaud Joannes-Boyau from Southern Cross University stated, “With the dating of this extremely ancient rock art in Sulawesi, we now have the oldest direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along this northern migration corridor into Sahul.”
As the team looks ahead, they plan to continue their exploration of human art and migration along the northern route. “These discoveries underscore the archaeological importance of the many other Indonesian islands between Sulawesi and New Guinea,” Aubert emphasized. This ongoing research aims to shed further light on the early human experience and the artistic expressions that have survived through millennia.
The findings not only enhance our understanding of ancient cultures but also illustrate the complex narrative of human migration, demonstrating how art serves as a bridge connecting us to our ancestors.
