Prehistoric cave art is one of the earliest forms of human expression, showcasing the creativity and life of ancient people. Found in caves around the world, these artworks often depict animals, human figures, and scenes from daily life, offering a glimpse into the past. Scientists use various techniques to date these artworks and understand their origins and significance.
Scientists have found some of the oldest rock art in the world on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. They used a new technique called laser-ablation U-series imaging to date the art more accurately. This method is better than the older one because it can pinpoint the age of the art more precisely.
They re-examined a hunting scene in a cave called Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4, which was previously thought to be at least 43,900 years old. With the new method, they found it to be at least 50,200 years old, making it over 4,000 years older than previously believed.
They also dated a new cave art scene at another site, Leang Karampuang, to be at least 51,200 years old. This scene shows human-like figures interacting with a pig, making it the oldest known example of storytelling through art.
These findings show that humans have been creating detailed images and stories in their art for much longer than we thought. The new dating method is faster, less damaging to the art, and gives a clearer picture of how old these ancient artworks really are.
