International scientists have identified the world’s oldest known figurative cave art on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The painting—at least 51,200 years old—depicts a Sulawesi warty pig interacting with three human figures.
The study, published in the journal Nature in mid-2024 under the title “Narrative Cave Art in Indonesia by 51,200 Years Ago,” confirms that this work represents the earliest evidence of humans creating visual representations that convey a story.
With its remarkable age, the painting predates many of Europe’s most iconic prehistoric artworks, effectively shifting the center of early art history from the West to Southeast Asia.
Details of the Painting: Human–Pig Interaction
The artwork, found in Leang Karampuang Cave in the Maros-Pangkep region of South Sulawesi, features a local wild pig (Sus celebensis) facing three human figures. Its reddish-purple hues were created using hematite-based pigments.
One human figure appears to hold a stick pointed toward the pig’s neck, another stands near the animal’s snout, while the third is uniquely depicted upside down with legs spread toward the pig’s head.
This composition suggests that ancient artists already understood action, inter-subject relationships, and narrative structure—indicating cognitive abilities far more advanced than previously assumed.
A New Way to Determine the Age of Ancient Art
Unlike carbon dating, which cannot be applied directly to paintings, researchers used laser ablation uranium-series dating. This method extracts microscopic samples from calcite layers that formed over the artwork, allowing for highly accurate minimum age estimates without damaging the image.
The calcite layer revealed that the painting is at least 51,200 years old, making it the oldest known narrative visual depiction ever discovered.
Researchers described the site as “extraordinarily beautiful, essential, untouched, and still pristine.” Local cultural heritage authorities have since implemented protective measures to ensure its long-term preservation.
Sulawesi: An Early Center of Human Creativity
This discovery is not the first major finding from Sulawesi. The island has previously revealed several significant prehistoric artworks, such as:
- Depictions of babirusa, anoa, and a therianthrope at Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4, initially dated to 43,900 years ago. With new technology, their age has now been revised to around 48,000 years.
- Red hand stencils discovered in 2014, which challenged the long-held belief that prehistoric art originated in Europe.
- A 136 × 54 cm Sulawesi warty pig painting found in 2017 at Leang Tedongnge, at least 45,500 years old, complete with hand-stencil marks behind the animal’s body.
Together, these consistent findings indicate that Sulawesi—part of the Wallacea region—played a crucial role in the evolutionary history of human creativity, potentially even preceding Europe.
Implications for Human Evolution
Experts believe the age of this art is closely tied to the cognitive development of early modern humans. Dr. Henry Gee of Nature stated:
“Something seems to have happened around 50,000 years ago, shortly after which all other species of human such as Neanderthals and the so-called Hobbit died out.”
He added that there may be even older examples of representational art, but they have not yet been discovered.
Prof. Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London also argues that representational art may have first emerged in Africa before the spread of modern humans, though the evidence has yet to be found.
If so, Sulawesi’s narrative artwork could serve as a key clue to understanding how symbolism, mythology, and imagination evolved in early Homo sapiens.
Challenging Eurocentric Views of Art History
Global prehistoric art discussions have long been dominated by monumental discoveries in France and Spain, including:
- The “Shaft Scene” at Lascaux (≈17,000 years)
- Animal paintings in Chauvet Cave (≈35,000 years)
- The “Lion Man” sculpture from Germany (≈40,000 years)
- El Castillo rock art in Spain (≈40,800 years)
However, the Sulawesi discoveries—dating back more than 51,000 years—clearly demonstrate that human creativity did not originate from a single continent. Southeast Asia is now firmly recognized as one of the earliest centers of visual expression by modern humans.
