Narrative cave art in Indonesia by 51,200 years ago

Adhi Agus Oktaviana, Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Budianto Hakim, Basran Burhan, Ratno Sardi, Shinatria Adhityatama, Hamrullah, Iwan Sumantri, M. Tang, Rustan Lebe, Imran Ilyas, Abdullah Abbas, Andi Jusdi, Dewangga Eka Mahardian, Sofwan Noerwidi, Marlon N. R. Ririmasse, Irfan Mahmud, Akin Duli, Laode M. Aksa, David McGahan, Pindi Setiawan, Adam Brumm and Maxime Aubert ()
Additional contact information
Adhi Agus Oktaviana: Griffith University
Renaud Joannes-Boyau: Southern Cross University
Budianto Hakim: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
Basran Burhan: Griffith University
Ratno Sardi: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
Shinatria Adhityatama: Griffith University
Hamrullah: Universitas Hasanuddin
Iwan Sumantri: Pusat Kolaborasi Riset Arkeologi Sulawesi
M. Tang: Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan Wilayah XIX
Rustan Lebe: Pusat Kolaborasi Riset Arkeologi Sulawesi
Imran Ilyas: Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan Wilayah XIX
Abdullah Abbas: Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan Wilayah XIX
Andi Jusdi: Pusat Kolaborasi Riset Arkeologi Sulawesi
Dewangga Eka Mahardian: Pusat Riset Arkeometri, Organisasi Riset Arkeologi, Bahasa, dan Sastra, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
Sofwan Noerwidi: Pusat Riset Arkeometri, Organisasi Riset Arkeologi, Bahasa, dan Sastra, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
Marlon N. R. Ririmasse: Pusat Kolaborasi Riset Arkeologi Sulawesi
Irfan Mahmud: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
Akin Duli: Pusat Kolaborasi Riset Arkeologi Sulawesi
Laode M. Aksa: Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan Wilayah XIX
David McGahan: Griffith University
Pindi Setiawan: Institute Teknologi Bandung
Adam Brumm: Griffith University
Maxime Aubert: Griffith University

Nature, 2024, vol. 631, issue 8022, 814-818

Abstract: Abstract Previous dating research indicated that the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is host to some of the oldest known rock art1–3. That work was based on solution uranium-series (U-series) analysis of calcite deposits overlying rock art in the limestone caves of Maros-Pangkep, South Sulawesi1–3. Here we use a novel application of this approach—laser-ablation U-series imaging—to re-date some of the earliest cave art in this karst area and to determine the age of stylistically similar motifs at other Maros-Pangkep sites. This method provides enhanced spatial accuracy, resulting in older minimum ages for previously dated art. We show that a hunting scene from Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4, which was originally dated using the previous approach to a minimum of 43,900 thousand years ago (ka)3, has a minimum age of 50.2 ± 2.2 ka, and so is at least 4,040 years older than thought. Using the imaging approach, we also assign a minimum age of 53.5 ± 2.3 ka to a newly described cave art scene at Leang Karampuang. Painted at least 51,200 years ago, this narrative composition, which depicts human-like figures interacting with a pig, is now the earliest known surviving example of representational art, and visual storytelling, in the world3. Our findings show that figurative portrayals of anthropomorphic figures and animals have a deeper origin in the history of modern human (Homo sapiens) image-making than recognized to date, as does their representation in composed scenes.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07541-7

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