Indonesia has officially achieved a historic milestone in the world of archaeology. Guinness World Records has recognized a prehistoric painting found in Southeast Sulawesi as the world’s oldest known non-figurative art. This incredible hand stencil is at least 67,800 years old, making it the most ancient painting ever created by our species.
This official recognition follows years of intensive research in the Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island. While researchers have explored the region for decades, new scientific testing has proven that its art is far older than anyone previously believed. This title places Indonesia at the very center of the global story of human civilization.
A Masterpiece from Muna Island
The masterpiece that earned the world record is a red hand stencil created during the Late Pleistocene era. What makes this specific painting so special is its unique artistic style.
Prof. Adam Brumm from Australian Research Centre for Humanities even narrowed the shape of the fingers to “claw-like" appearance. Scientists have identified this specific artistic tradition only in this part of Indonesia, making it a globally unique variant of the hand stencil motif.
Researchers first published the details of this discovery in the prestigious scientific journal Nature in early 2026. The study reveals that the painting is approximately 1,100 years older than the previous record-holder, which is a hand stencil in Spain that some experts linked to Neanderthals.
It also exceeds the age of earlier famous discoveries in Sulawesi’s Maros-Pangkep region by more than 15,000 years. By securing this Guinness World Record, Indonesia provides the oldest direct evidence for human creativity on Earth.
The Science of the Stencil
To earn this official title, scientists had to provide undeniable proof of the painting's age. An international team of experts, led by Indonesian archaeologist Adhi Agus Oktaviana from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and researchers from Griffith University, used a cutting-edge method called laser-ablation uranium-series dating.
Professor Maxime Aubert explained that the team used lasers to analyze tiny mineral deposits, often called "cave popcorn," that grew on top of the paint. Because these minerals formed after the artist finished the painting, their age gives us a "minimum age" for the artwork. The laser technology allowed the team to map the age at many different points with extreme precision, proving the stencil is at least 67,800 years old.
This world record is more than just a certificate. It fundamentally changes our understanding of how early humans traveled the world. The artists who created this stencil were early modern humans (Homo sapiens).
The extreme age of the painting suggests that our ancestors arrived in Indonesia much earlier than many scientists once thought. Archaeologists believe these ancient artists were part of the first groups of humans to travel toward the ancient continent of Sahul (which included Australia and New Guinea).
This discovery supports the "long chronology" theory, which argues that humans reached this region at least 65,000 years ago. These early explorers brought a sophisticated culture and a love for art as they crossed the seas from mainland Asia.
Today, the Indonesian government is working to protect Liang Metanduno as a National Ranked Cultural Heritage Site. This Guinness World Record brings immense pride to the nation and invites the world to learn about the deep roots of human creativity in the Indonesian archipelago.
