A recent study published in *Nature* reveals that the oldest known rock art, a human hand stencil, dates back over **67,000 years**. This significant discovery, made in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, offers new insights into early human migration patterns, particularly regarding the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians.
The stencil, which appears claw-like, was found in the Liang Metanduno cave and is now recognized as the oldest reliably dated rock art globally, surpassing previous finds in the region by approximately **16,600 years**. According to study author **Maxime Aubert** from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research at Griffith University, this finding highlights Sulawesi as a crucial site for one of the world’s earliest artistic cultures, originating at least **67,800 years ago**.
Significance of Sulawesi in Human Migration
Sulawesi holds a pivotal role in the history of human migration. The island not only served as a site for artistic expression but may have also acted as a stepping stone for **Homo sapiens** migrating from Asia to Sahul, the ancient landmass that once connected Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania. The findings suggest that the creators of this art were likely part of the population that later populated Australia.
The research team employed various dating techniques, including uranium-series dating, to ascertain the age of the claw-like stencil. The findings indicate that this artwork can be attributed to an **H. sapiens** artist, likely connected to the ancestors of the Aboriginal Australians. **Adhi Agus Oktaviana**, a co-author from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, stated, “It is very likely that the people who made these paintings in Sulawesi were part of the broader population that would later spread through the region and ultimately reach Australia.” This discovery supports the notion that the ancestors of the First Australians were present in Sahul as early as **65,000 years ago**.
Continuing the Exploration of Ancient Art
Previous research highlighted two timelines for the arrival of modern humans in Sahul: the “long chronology” at around **65,000 years ago** and the “short chronology” at approximately **50,000 years ago**. These studies proposed that early humans reached Sahul through two primary routes: a northern path through Sulawesi and a southern path via Timor, leading to New Guinea and Australia.
Interestingly, the Liang Metanduno cave also contains younger paintings, suggesting that it remained a site of human occupation for at least **35,000 years**. **Renaud Joannes-Boyau**, another study author from Southern Cross University, emphasized the importance of this discovery, noting, “With the dating of this extremely ancient rock art in Sulawesi, we now have the oldest direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along this northern migration corridor into Sahul.”
As researchers look towards the future, they plan to further investigate other Indonesian islands that lie between Sulawesi and New Guinea, seeking to uncover more evidence of early human art and migration. Aubert remarked on the archaeological potential of these islands, signaling that they may yield even more significant discoveries regarding human history.
This groundbreaking study not only sheds light on the artistic endeavors of our ancient ancestors but also helps us understand the complex migration routes that shaped the populations of Australia and beyond.