By Archaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
in collaboration with Griffith University
Aerial view of Karampuang Hill (2024) by Dominic JulianArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Welcome to Bukit Karampuang, Maros, Sulawesi
Journey with us to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, to a place where time whispers secrets from tens of thousands of years ago. This is the story of Karampuang Hill and the discovery of Leang Karampuang cave, home to some of the world's oldest recorded human messages.
Days turned into a painstaking search, exploring cave after cave, meticulously checking for any trace of ancient artistry. Then, a breakthrough. Oki Amrullah, a Cultural Heritage Guard, spotted something intriguing: red brush marks high up in a narrow cave opening, four meters up a karst cliff on Karampuang Hill. He climbed, he entered, and what he found was astonishing.
Leang Karampuang expedition (2017) by Ratno Sardi, Adhi Agus Oktaviana, and HamrullahArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Imagine the scene: investigators in 2017, carefully mapping the cave, its length and shape revealed. Images show the cave's location, its five-meter-high entrance, and the view from within. Early recordings captured the raw beauty of the rock art.
Tap to explore
The artwork depicted a world long past: hand stencils, human figures, a group of pigs, and other animals. Beyond the paintings, the team also unearthed pottery, shells, arrowheads, and even human remains, painting a richer picture of the lives lived there.
Imaging of Leang Karampuang Rock Art (2024) by Adhi Agus Oktaviana, Ratno Sardi, Dewangga Eka Mahardian, and Adam BrummArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Location
Map showing the location of the different cave paintings at Leang Karampuang
Dating panel positions
The different dates shows different ages of corraloid (cave popcorn) on top of the color pigments. The oldest painting has been dated at 51,200 years old and the most recent has been dated at 18,350 years old.
Enhanced image of pig at Leang Karampuang (2024) by Adhi Agus OktavianaArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Let's focus on one remarkable image: a painting of a pig. To bring out its details, scientists use a technique called D-stretch, or Decorrelation Stretch, digitally enhancing the ancient artwork. An enhanced image reveals the pig clearly.
The rock art dating panel at Leang Karampuang (2024) by Dominic and Adhi Agus OktavianaArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Compare to the raw photograph of the cave painting, and you'll appreciate the clarity D-Stretch brings.
Pig motif at Karampuang cave (2024) by Adhi Agus OktavianaArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Another pig motif, captured without enhancement, still holds its ancient power.
Can you see it?
A DStretch enhancement of wild pig at the ceiling of Leang Karampuang (2024) by Adhi Agus OktavianaArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Enhanced image of a painting of a pig
Is this a bit clearer? An enhanced (D-Stretch) image of a cave painting of a wild pig at Leang Karampuang. This image has clear detail of hair on the top of the head and has detail of the feet.
Adhi Agus Oktaviana, archaeologist (2024) by Akhmad ZonaArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
Leang Karampuang cave painting holds the oldest human message recorded in the world, to date. This painting is an important piece that connects and traces our entire human history all the way back, 51,000 years ago, to the Indonesian region.
A diagram showing the laser ablation uranium-series imaging. This is a sample from Leang Bulu Sipong 4. (2019) by Adhi Agus Oktaviana and Maxime AubertArchaeological, Language and Literature Research Organization
More to explore
Learn about the world's oldest hunting scene at Leang Bulu Sipong 4, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The 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, Fakulta Seni Rupa dan Desain, Institut Teknologi Bandung
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.