Indonesia Unearths World’s Oldest Rock Art: 67,800-Year-Old Cave Painting Found in Muna Island

The Indonesian Ministry of Culture has officially announced a groundbreaking discovery of what is now recognized as the world’s oldest rock art, found deep inside Metanduno Cave on Muna Island, Southeast Sulawesi. The research was conducted through an international collaboration among the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Griffith University, and Southern Cross University, Australia.

In this limestone cave, Indonesian and Australian researchers identified a prehistoric hand stencil dating back at least 67,800 years—approximately 1,100 years older than the previously known oldest cave painting in Spain. The findings, published in Nature on January 22, 2026, mark a milestone in human prehistory and reinforce Indonesia’s pivotal role in early human civilization.

“This discovery proves that imagination, symbolic thought, and cultural expression existed far earlier in the Indonesian archipelago than previously thought. It compels the world to reinterpret the global map of human civilization from a more inclusive and holistic perspective,” said Minister of Culture Fadli Zon during a press conference titled “Tracing the Civilization of the Archipelago Through the World’s Oldest Rock Art” in Jakarta on Thursday, January 22.

Present during the event were leading researchers Prof. Maxime Aubert, Dr. Adhi Agus Oktaviana, Dr. Sofwan Noerwidi, Dr. Shinatria Adhityatama, Dr. M. Irfan Mahmud, and Dr. Marlon NR Ririmasse, alongside BRIN’s Head of Archaeology, Language, and Literature Research Organization Dr. Herry Yogaswara, representatives of Muna Regency Government, and local cultural leaders.

Fadli expressed deep gratitude to the research teams and local collaborators including UPT Cultural Preservation Centers in Makassar, Palu, and Manado for their roles in documentation and protection of the site. Using Laser Ablation Uranium-Series (LA-U-series) dating, scientists analyzed thin layers of calcite over the red pigment—confirming the stencil’s prehistoric age.

He added that beyond enriching global science, this discovery cements Indonesia’s cultural identity as one of the earliest foundations of human civilization, underscoring the presence of symbolic creativity, cognitive intelligence, and artistic expression among early inhabitants of Nusantara.
“This is not only a scientific milestone but a cultural achievement for Indonesia,” Fadli stressed. “It repositions Nusantara as a core epicenter of human symbolic creativity and one of the world’s earliest civilizations.”

This research is part of a comprehensive rock art documentation program in Southeast Sulawesi that began in 2019, covering 44 sites (including 14 newly identified ones) and dating 11 motifs across eight caves. The motifs include seven hand stencils, two human figures, and two geometric patterns. The Muna discovery surpasses both Spain’s oldest known cave art and Sulawesi’s Maros-Pangkep paintings—revealing new timelines of human symbolic expression spanning over 67 millennia.

Global Significance: Art, Migration, and Symbolism in Early Humanity

Researchers emphasize that this discovery reshapes global understanding of early human migration and the emergence of symbolic culture. Located within the Wallacea biogeographical zone, Muna lies along the ancient northern migration corridor toward the Sahul continent (ancient Australia and New Guinea).

This aligns with theories suggesting that early Homo sapiens migrating through Wallacea possessed advanced cognitive and artistic abilities. The ancient art not only demonstrates creative expression but may also embody social identity and symbolic communication.
“Rock art is a window into the prehistoric human mind,” said Fadli. “It reveals that imagination and cognitive complexity evolved in multiple places across the world—not just one.”

Interestingly, one of the hand stencils on Muna Island shows intentionally tapered fingers, a feature that appears unique to Sulawesi. Although its meaning remains under research, scholars believe it could suggest symbolic, ritualistic, or aesthetic intent—adding new anthropological layers to Pleistocene cultural studies.

Indonesia: Megadiversity and the Reclamation of Civilizational Narratives

Minister Fadli linked the discovery to a broader cultural vision—positioning Indonesia as both megadiverse and ancient in civilization origins.
“In this archipelago, the crossroads of world civilizations, ancient humans created, communicated, and left marks that still speak across tens of thousands of years,” he said. “This discovery reinforces Indonesia’s contribution to global civilization. We are not the periphery—we are one of its original centers.”

Fadli also called for youth involvement in fields such as archaeology, anthropology, and cultural sciences, underscoring the need for ethical, community-centered, and sustainable heritage research.

He confirmed that this discovery would be integrated into national cultural advancement policies, emphasizing research continuity, protection, and education.
“Our duty is to preserve and pass on this legacy responsibly—from research to conservation, from conservation to public education, and from education to sustainable cultural use,” Fadli explained.

The Ministry of Culture, together with BRIN and local governments, plans follow-up programs focusing on multidisciplinary studies, heritage protection, UNESCO recognition, and public outreach to ensure this discovery contributes both to science and society.

Closing the announcement, Fadli reaffirmed Indonesia’s enduring contribution to humanity:
“The 67,800-year-old handprint is more than art—it is a message across time, proof that our ancestors in Nusantara were already thinking symbolically, imagining, and expressing themselves at the dawn of civilization. Our mission today is to protect, study, and honor that legacy.”

Indonesianpost.com | GNFI