Why in news?
Archaeologists studying a limestone cave on Muna Island in southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, have identified a red hand stencil that is at least 67,800 years old. This makes it the oldest known rock art ever discovered, predating previous records by more than sixteen thousand years. The discovery provides a new window into the creative expression of early humans and suggests that people crossed island chains much earlier than previously believed.
Background
Muna Island lies off the southeast coast of Sulawesi and covers about 1,704 sq km of hilly terrain. It is home to the Muna people, who cultivate rice and tubers and share their landscape with unique animals such as the babirusa pig and cuscus. The island forms part of a chain of landmasses between Borneo and New Guinea that early humans would have traversed en route to the ancient continent of Sahul (Australia–New Guinea). Until now, the oldest known rock art in the area dated to about 51,000 years ago.
Discovery and dating
- Location: The hand stencil was found on the wall of the Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island. The artist placed a hand on the rock and sprayed ochre pigment over it, leaving a reddish outline.
- Dating method: Researchers used laser‑ablation uranium‑series dating on calcite deposits that formed over the stencil. The deposits returned an age of about 71.6 ± 3.8 thousand years, placing the hand stencil itself at a minimum of 67.8 ± 3.8 thousand years old.
- Implications: This age predates previous rock‑art records by roughly 16,000 years. It indicates that early humans or their close relatives inhabited Sulawesi and were creating symbolic art tens of millennia before the peopling of Sahul (~65,000 years ago).
- Seafaring routes: The discovery supports the idea that humans used the “northern route” through Sulawesi to reach Australia and New Guinea, relying on rudimentary boats to cross sea channels between islands.
Significance
- Early symbolic behaviour: Creating a hand stencil requires planning and the use of pigment, demonstrating cognitive abilities and cultural expression at a very early date.
- Pre‑history insights: The find extends the timeline of rock art and suggests that artistic traditions in Indonesia developed independently of similar expressions in Europe and Africa.
- Conservation: Limestone caves like Liang Metanduno are vulnerable to weathering and human disturbance. Protecting them ensures that ancient art survives for future study.
Conclusion
The hand stencil from Muna Island is a remarkable testament to our species’ capacity for art and symbolism. It enriches our understanding of early human migrations and highlights the need to preserve fragile heritage sites. Further research in Indonesia’s caves could unveil even older expressions of human creativity.
Source: REUT
