The world’s oldest artwork has been discovered in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, dating back 51,200 years. The painting depicts three people gathered around a large red pig, suggesting it is the oldest evidence of storytelling. The cave art is in poor condition but clearly shows deliberate interaction between the figures, conveying a sense of action and storytelling.
The discovery challenges the notion that cave art first emerged in Europe, with previous evidence suggesting the first narrative art originated there. This find pushes back that timeline significantly and indicates that representational art may have first been produced in Africa before spreading as humans migrated.
The researchers used a new technique involving laser dating of calcium carbonate crystals to determine the age of the painting. The discovery of such ancient cave art in Indonesia suggests that Europe was not the birthplace of cave art, as previously assumed, and highlights the importance of storytelling in human history. The advanced nature of the Sulawesi rock art demonstrates the mental capacity of early humans.
The find has sparked interest and discussion among experts, with many eager to confirm the results through further dating and research. This discovery sheds new light on the history of art and human storytelling, providing insight into the origins and development of creative expression among early humans.
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