An international research team has discovered the world's oldest known example of rock art—a simple handprint on a cave wall on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, dating back at least 67,800 years. According to Science Daily, this handprint predates the previous discovery in the same region by about 15,000 years. The researchers, led by Griffith University, Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency, and Southern Cross University, say the find helps solve the mystery of when the first humans arrived in Australia. The artists who created the painting are believed to be close to the ancestors of Australia's Aboriginal people. The painting was found in limestone caves in southeastern Sulawesi. Scientists used uranium-series dating to examine the tiny mineral layers that formed over and under the artwork in Leang Tedongnge cave, allowing them to pinpoint the period when the drawings were made. Beyond being the oldest known example, the study reveals that this cave saw artistic activity for about 35,000 years, with people continuing to create paintings there until as recently as 20,000 years ago. What also makes this painting unique is that it is not an ordinary handprint; it appears the creator intentionally modified it after its creation by narrowing the finger outline to resemble an animal's claw. Researchers suggest this modification may reflect an ancient belief in a close connection between humans and animals, as early Sulawesi art often depicts beings with human and animal features. However, the precise meaning of these alterations remains a mystery. This discovery marks a turning point in the scientific debate over when the first humans arrived on the Australian continent.
