Scientists have discovered the world’s oldest cave painting – created at least 51,200 years ago inside the Leang Karampuang cave in the Maros-Pangkep region of South Sulawesi province in Indonesia.
Key points
The artwork depicts three human-like figures interacting with a wild pig.
The researchers used a new scientific approach to determine the minimum age of the newly disclosed painting by using a laser to date a type of crystal called calcium carbonate that formed naturally on top of the painting.
The scene is dominated by a representation of a pig measuring 36 inches by 15 inches (92 cm by 38 cm) that is standing upright along with three smaller human-like figures.
It is painted in a single shade of dark red pigment.
Until now, the oldest-known cave painting was one at Leang Tedongnge cave, also in Sulawesi, from at least 45,500 years ago.
The Leang Karampuang painting predates the cave paintings of Europe, the earliest of which is at El Castillo in Spain, dating to about 40,800 years ago.
