The World’s Oldest Hunting Scene
Find out more about the oldest hunting scene discovered at Bulu Sipong on the island of Sulawesi
The earliest hunting scene from Bulu Sipong 4, Pangkep (2019) by Adhi Agus Oktaviana and Maxime AubertArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Discovering hunters
The world's oldest hunting scene was discovered in 2017 in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The painting, which is at least 48,000 years old, depicts several human-like figures hunting wild pigs and dwarf water buffalo.
Long story
The painting is about 4.5 meters wide. The human figures are shown using a variety of hunting weapons, including spears, bows and arrows, and nets.
Adaptable
The use of spears, bows and arrows, and nets suggests that early humans were skilled hunters, able to adapt to different environments.
Anoa Hunting Scene (2018) by Ratno SardiArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Hunters depicted as therianthrope
In this scene, the hunters are painted as therianthrope, a creature that is part human and part animal. The scene portrays human hunters, possibly wearing animal skins, masks, or other animal parts as camouflage.
The earliest hunting scene from Bulu Sipong 4, Pangkep (2019) by Adhi Agus Oktaviana and Maxime AubertArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Working alone or as a team
The hunting scene of wild pigs and anoa (dwarf buffalo) by the therianthrope figure suggests that hunting animals could be done by a single hunter, as well as by a group of hunters.
Therianthropes 1
Here you can see the human figure crouched with one arm holding a long stick and, what looks like a tail, at the back, as a camouflage for hunting animals.
Therianthropes 3–8
Anoa are considered a more dangerous animal than a wild pig. These early human hunters would hunt the anoa in groups using several long sticks.
Note that the dates in this video from 2020 have since been superseded by more accurate dating technology and the hunting scene is now dated at 48,000 years old.
The location of Bulu Sipong 4 cave (2019) by Andrea JalandoniArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Tonasa Cement Company Conservation Area, Pangkep Regency
The cave was discovered by a Cultural Heritage Guard, Hamrullah, during an archaeological survey with BPCB South Sulawesi in 2017. There are 8 archaeological sites in this area. Bulu Sipong means ‘stand alone hill’.
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Can you spot the hunting scene on the cave wall?
It takes a trained eye to see artwork from thousands of years ago. Take a virtual trip through the cave to see what you can discover.
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Discover human history
Continue your journey and see the latest discovery on the world's oldest narrative art.
This research was made possible by collaboration efforts from various government bodies, universities and communities.
In collaboration with:
School of Humanities, Languages & Social Science
Centre for Social & Cultural Research
Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution Griffith University, Australia
Pusat Riset Arkeometri, Organisasi Riset Arkeologi, Bahasa, dan Sastra, Badan Risetdan Inovasi Nasional, Center for Prehistory & Austronesian Studies, Jakarta
Geoarchaeology & Archaeometry Research Group, Southern Cross University, Australia
Pusat Riset Arkeologi Prasejarah dan Sejarah, Organisasi Riset Arkeologi
Pusat Riset Arkeologi Lingkungan, Maritim, dan Budaya Berkelanjutan
Pusat Kolaborasi Riset Arkeologi Sulawesi
Bahasa, dan Sastra, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, Jakarta
Korps Pecinta Alam Departemen Arkeologi, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya
Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan Wilayah XIX, Makassar
Badan Layanan Umum Museum dan Cagar Budaya, Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan, Jakarta
KK Desain Komunikasi Visual, Fakultas Seni Rupa dan Desain, Institut Teknologi Bandung
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1806-y
