"Indonesia and the surrounding region is known for some of the world's most ancient archaeological finds. Archaeologists have found that handprints stencilled on limestone caves on the Indonesian island of Muna could be up to 67,800 years old, making them the oldest known paintings in the world. The tan-coloured drawings analysed by Indonesian and Australian researchers were made by blowing pigment over hands placed against the cave walls, leaving an outline, scientists said on Wednesday."
"According to the Jakarta Post news outlet, archaeologist Adhi Agus Oktaviana from Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has been looking for hand stencils in the Muna island region, in Sulawesi province, since 2015. Adhi found the hand stencils, which have now been dated, under newer paintings in the cave of a person riding a horse alongside a chicken."
Hand stencils on limestone caves on Muna island in Sulawesi are dated up to 67,800 years old and constitute the oldest known paintings globally. The tan-coloured stencils were produced by blowing pigment over hands placed against cave walls, creating outlines. The stencils were discovered beneath newer figurative paintings depicting a person on a horse and a bird or chicken. Some fingertips were deliberately reshaped to appear pointed, a stylistic variant found only in Sulawesi. The pointed fingertips imply an attempt to transform hand images into another form, possibly resembling an animal claw. Indonesian and Australian analysts conducted the pigment analyses and dating.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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