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Archaeologists discover world’s oldest known cave art in Indonesia
67,800-year-old hand stencil in Sulawesi sheds new light on early human migration and symbolic expression
Archaeologists have identified what is believed to be the world’s oldest known example of cave art – a hand stencil dated to at least 67,800 years ago – in a limestone cave on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island. This was reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.
The discovery was made in the Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island, part of Sulawesi’s extensive karst landscape. Scientists determined the artwork’s minimum age using uranium-series dating of microscopic mineral layers that formed on and beneath the pigment.
According to the study, the newly dated hand stencil is more than 15,000 years older than previous rock art discoveries in the region. Evidence also indicates that the cave was used repeatedly for artistic expression over a prolonged period, with paintings created across at least 35,000 years.
Researchers state the find provides critical insight into early human migration in Southeast Asia and the settlement of Sahul – a palaeocontinent.
The found hand stencil is considered globally distinctive due to its modified appearance: the finger outlines were deliberately narrowed after the image was created. Scientists suggest this alteration may reflect symbolic practices or cultural meaning among early human populations.
BRICS countries are actively conducting excavations and making archaeological discoveries. Elymaean rock paintings have been discovered in the mountains of southwestern Iran. This was reported by the Tehran Times, a partner of TV BRICS. The state of Elymaean existed in these lands from the 2nd century BC to the 3rd century AD. An ancient artist carved three figures on the stone: a strong man, a snake-like creature with three heads, and a priest. According to scientists, the artist may have depicted the mythological battle between Heracles and the Hydra.
In the northeast of Ethiopia, in the Afar region, archaeologists found fragments of a hominin jaw (a subfamily of the primate family Hominidae, which includes Homo sapiens). The remains are estimated to be 2.6 million years old. This is the first confirmed discovery of representatives of the Paranthropus genus in this part of the country, according to ENA, a partner of TV BRICS.
Earlier in Russia, employees of the archaeological technology laboratory of the Institute of Material Culture History of the Russian Academy of Sciences found sleds made of horse bone at an ancient monument in the Krasnodar Territory. This is stated in a publication on the institute's website. Scientists believe that in ancient times, people could cross the Kerch Strait on such "skates".
Photo: KvitaJan / iStock
30.07.2614:00 
25 minutes 32 sec.