The World’s Oldest Cave Paintings — From South Sulawesi, Indonesia

South Sulawesi holds one of the most astonishing discoveries in the history of human art: a series of cave paintings now considered the oldest known figurative and narrative artworks in the world. Found in the karst region of Maros–Pangkep (notably Leang Tedongnge, Leang Karampuang, and Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4), these images include depictions of Sulawesi warty pigs, negative hand stencils, and even what appears to be storytelling scenes involving human-like figures and animals. This challenges long-held assumptions that the origins of figurative art were centered in Europe.

What Was Discovered?

Key findings include:

• A depiction of a Sulawesi warty pig in Leang Tedongnge cave, previously dated to at least 45,500 years ago.

• A panel at Leang Karampuang showing three human-like figures interacting with a pig. Recent analyses using laser-ablation uranium-series (LA-U-series) dating suggest a minimum age of ~51,200 years, making it the world’s earliest known example of narrative art.

• Numerous negative hand stencils and additional motifs scattered across the walls of caves in Maros–Pangkep.

How Were They Dated?

Scientists do not directly date the pigments themselves (organic pigments rarely survive intact). Instead, they analyze calcite deposits (thin mineral layers) that formed over the paintings using uranium-thorium dating methods. Because the calcite is younger than the painting beneath it, the results provide a minimum age.

The new LA-U-series method improves accuracy by mapping the micro-stratigraphy of calcite layers. This has refined age estimates and in some cases pushed the minimum age of the paintings further back, strengthening claims that Sulawesi art predates Europe’s earliest figurative works.

Controversies and Ongoing Debates

Despite the excitement, the discoveries remain subject to scrutiny:

1. Minimum age versus actual age. U-series results provide only the youngest possible date, meaning the art could be much older. Critics caution against equating minimum ages with exact ages.
2. Geological complexity. Calcite growth, erosion, and water seepage can complicate dating accuracy. While LA-U-series mitigates some issues, interpreting results still requires caution.
3. Narrative interpretation. Whether the compositions truly depict “stories” or are simply symbolic arrangements is debated. Researchers suggest storytelling, but some scholars urge caution, noting that meaning is ultimately interpretive.
4. Global competition for the “oldest” title. Some European sites (e.g., El Castillo in Spain) also claim very early dates. The title of “world’s oldest art” is continually reassessed as methods improve.

Expert Perspectives

• Maxime Aubert (Griffith University), co-lead of the dating studies, argues that these results “revolutionize” how we understand rock art chronology, showing that figurative and narrative art emerged early in Southeast Asia, not only in Europe.
• Indonesian researchers such as Adhi Agus Oktaviana emphasize the national importance of these discoveries, both scientifically and culturally, highlighting the need for local preservation and public awareness.
• Skeptical voices in the archaeological community stress that while the findings are remarkable, conclusions about symbolic storytelling and the global “first” must remain provisional until further data emerges.

Threats and Conservation Challenges

The Maros–Pangkep caves face serious risks: salt efflorescence, humidity fluctuations, and human interference (tourism and vandalism) are damaging pigments and rock surfaces. Climate change intensifies these processes by increasing rainfall variability. Conservationists warn that without urgent protection measures, many paintings could deteriorate beyond recognition within decades.

Why It Matters

If confirmed, Sulawesi’s cave paintings rewrite the story of early human creativity. They demonstrate that symbolic thought, figurative expression, and perhaps even storytelling existed more than 50,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, not just in Ice Age Europe. This discovery places Indonesia at the heart of global human history, emphasizing its role in shaping the shared heritage of art and imagination.