Indonesia’s oldest cave paintings discovered in South Sulawesi

[ad_1]

Jakarta(ANTARA) –
Researchers from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Australia’s Griffith and Southern Cross Universities recently discovered Indonesia’s oldest cave paintings in a cave in Maros-Bangkep, South Sulawesi.

The team demonstrated that the paintings show humanoids interacting with anurans (buffalo) and wild boar, at least 51,200 years old.

“This is the first cave painting found in Indonesia that is older than 50,000 years,” Adhi Agus Oktaviana, co-chair of the BRIN research team, said on Thursday.

The paintings were probably meant to convey the dangers of interacting with anoya and the need to hunt them in packs, he said, adding that they may also have spiritual significance.

The discovery is therefore of great significance to the history of early Indonesian art and, more broadly, to our understanding of the origins of art.

“In principle, humans were already able to communicate by telling stories more than 51,200 years ago. However, since writing cannot be preserved as fossils, only pictorial art has survived,” says the BRIN researcher.

He added: “From an archaeological point of view, the finds in Sulawesi are the earliest evidence (of cave paintings).”

Oktaviana stressed the need to study cave paintings to improve understanding of early human civilization and migration. Studying cave paintings is also relatively cheaper than excavating at the target site.

Meanwhile, the LA-U series laser ablation unit operated by Griffith University is used to detect calcium carbonate layers in cave paintings for accurate dating, he said.

The findings were also published in the scientific journal natureBRIN researchers revealed.

Reacting to the findings, BRIN chairman Laksana Tri Handoko said they demonstrate Indonesian archaeologists’ determination to study and further understand the ancestors of the Indonesian nation.

“Indonesia is rich in artifacts that are not just artifacts, but true proof of the richness of our culture and civilization,” Handok added.

[ad_2]

Source link