Summary
Researchers discovered the oldest known cave painting on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The painting shows a red outlined hand altered to look like a claw and is at least 67,800 years old. This finding suggests early human creativity existed outside Europe and that Homo sapiens reached the wider Australia–New Guinea area earlier than previously thought.
Key Facts
- The cave painting is on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
- It is a red hand stencil altered to resemble a claw.
- This painting dates back at least 67,800 years.
- It predates the previous oldest hand stencil in Spain by 1,100 years.
- The discovery suggests Homo sapiens reached the Australia–New Guinea landmass earlier than some experts believed.
- Recent findings in Sulawesi challenge the idea that art and abstract thinking began in Europe.
- Cave art is crucial to understanding when humans started thinking symbolically.
- Researchers highlighted the difference between Homo sapiens art and Neanderthal art.
