Our story begins on Sulawesi, a large island in Indonesia, in caves spread over an 80 km stretch along the south of the island...

... specifically the limestone cave of Leang Karampuang in the Maros-Pangkep region. Can you spot the entrance through the trees?

On the roof of the cave, paintings depicting three human-like figures interacting with a wild pig were discovered. They've degraded over time, which is understandable given their age... over 51,200 years old!

Laser analysis of layers of calcium carbonate was used to determine the paintings' age. They're the oldest known cave art, and the earliest evidence of narrative storytelling, anywhere in the world. Other, already known paintings were also re-dated to this earlier period.

Archaeology teams from Griffith University in Australia and the National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia came together to explore and understand the rock art of Sulawesi. They worked with local guides and custodians of the ancient sites.

The discovery of the Leang Karampuang paintings was all down to a Cultural Heritage Guard, Oki Amrullah, who spotted paint marks high up on the cave's ceiling.

It took deep local knowledge combined with expert analysis to identify the paintings. This enhanced image reveals their discovery for a wider audience. Can you spot the pigs?

The world’s oldest known cave paintings, to date, have been discovered nestled within the limestone karst formations of the Maros-Pangkep region. These artworks have captivated archaeologists and researchers with their origins and the stories they tell. 

Dating back tens of thousands of years, these paintings depicted intricate scenes of hunting, human-animal hybrids and spiritual rituals, offering a window into the minds and lives of our ancient ancestors. 

Rock art has been discovered in locations around the world. Wherever our ancestors lived they made and left their mark. It gives us an important insight into past cultures but has always been difficult to date reliably. 

Driven by a shared passion for unravelling history's mysteries, Indonesian and Australian researchers embarked on a collaborative journey. Their goal: to accurately date these enigmatic artworks using advanced scientific techniques.

Previous methods of dating indicated that Sulawesi is host to some of the oldest known rock art in the world. That work was based on solution Uranium-series analysis (U-series) of calcite deposits overlaying rock art in the limestone caves of Maros-Pangkep.

A new technique: laser ablation U-series imaging (LA-U-Series), was used to re-date some of the earliest cave art in this area, and to determine the age of stylistically similar motifs at the other Maros-Pangkep sites. 

This new technique, LA-U-Series, offers a precise timeline, pushing back the known origins of cave art by thousands of years.

As results emerged, it was revealed that the hunting ‘scene’ from Leang Bulu’ Sipong, originally dated to a minimum of 43,900 years, is now at least 4,040 years older. This means it’s approximately 48,000 years old.  

This revelation reshaped the timeline of human creativity and underscored the importance of Southeast Asia in the study of prehistoric art and human history.

The new imaging method assigned a minimum age of 51,200 years to a newly discovered cave art scene at Leang Karampuang,

This collaboration between BRIN and Griffith University yielded not just groundbreaking scientific discoveries but also strengthened bonds between nations by reaffirming the importance of preserving our shared cultural heritage for future generations. 

These findings will inspire a new generation of researchers to continue the exploration. The story of the world's oldest cave paintings is far from complete, but thanks to this collaboration, it has taken a giant leap forward in understanding the dawn of human creativity.

The teams worked with locals, acknowledging their role as custodians of the ancient sites. This ensured the research was conducted respectfully, ethically, and with a deep appreciation for the cultural significance of the Maros-Pangkep caves to the Indigenous peoples of Sulawesi