Some of the earliest cave art

Using a novel technique called laser ablation U-series (LA-U-series), archaeologists have re-dated some of the earliest cave art in the Maros-Pangkep region of South Sulawesi and determined the age of stylistically similar motifs at other Maros-Pangkep sites.

Nestled high on a rocky cliff and accessible through a narrow passage, a remarkable painting has been uncovered, identified by archaeologists as the oldest known example of narrative art in history. 

This artwork, found in the limestone cave of Leang Karampuang in the Maros Pangkep region of South Sulawesi, depicts three human-like figures engaged with a wild pig.

According to a study published in the journal *Nature*, the painting, created with red pigment, dates back at least 51,200 years.

This discovery adds to a growing body of prehistoric art found in the area's intriguing limestone caves. The same study re-evaluated another scene featuring part human, part animal figures hunting warty pigs and dwarf buffaloes, determining it to be at least 48,000 years old. Additionally, a previous report described three warty pigs painted on a cave wall, which was recognized as the oldest depiction of an animal at 45,500 years old.

These paintings predate Europe's renowned cave art, such as Lascaux in France, and while they are younger than certain geometric abstract art from South Africa, they represent the oldest known narrative scene, according to the study's authors.

Maxime Aubert, a professor at Griffith University’s Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, remarked, “We, as humans, define ourselves as storytellers, and these works are the oldest evidence of that.” He emphasized that the artists conveyed more than just static images; they illustrated relationships among the figures.

Co-author Adam Brumm, also from Griffith University, expressed his astonishment at the art's age, noting that these narrative works likely held significant meaning for early inhabitants of Sulawesi.

The findings challenge the long-held belief that artistic expression and the cognitive developments fueling human creativity originated in Europe, shedding new light on the early history of humanity.

Dating cave art poses challenges, particularly when using mineral pigments instead of organic materials. However, in limestone caves, researchers can utilize the radioactive decay of uranium found in natural calcium carbonate layers to establish a minimum age.

Renaud Joannes-Boyau, an archaeogeochemistry expert, explained that traditional methods involved crushing rock samples to determine age, but their new technique uses a fine laser beam to accurately map the calcium carbonate layers.

This innovative approach, developed by Joannes-Boyau and Aubert, is less invasive and allows for more precise age calculations, potentially revolutionizing the dating of rock art globally.

April Nowell, a Paleolithic archaeologist, concurred that the painted scenes exhibit a narrative quality, possibly representing lost oral stories. She noted, “Storytelling has great antiquity, and while the oral tales may be gone, we have visual counterparts.”

While the study's dating methods are solid, Paul Pettitt, an archaeology professor, cautioned that claiming these artworks are narrative in nature requires some speculation.

To ascertain the age of the cave paintings, the team employed a new technique to date the calcium carbonate deposits overlying the art. Pettitt noted uncertainty about whether the images were merely isolated depictions or if their supposed spears were natural formations or drawn lines.

Aubert mentioned that the creators of this ancient art were likely Homo sapiens, though other human species could have been involved, as evidenced by Neanderthal engravings found in France.

The abundance of cave art in this region of Indonesia remains a mystery, but Aubert and his team anticipate further discoveries. He suggested that these findings imply Homo sapiens possessed a rich storytelling culture, using visual representations to convey stories about human-animal interactions. “We suspect this art may date back to the initial waves of humans migrating to Australia around 65,000 years ago,” he added.