• The painted outline of a human hand in Indonesia is the oldest known rock art, dating back at least 67,800 years.
• This discovery provides insights into early human migration patterns to Australia.
• The art form showcases an intricate cultural practice among ancient peoples in the region.

The discovery of a red stencil of a hand in a cave on Indonesia’s Muna island has been identified as the oldest example of rock art in the world, estimated to be at least 67,800 years old, according to research published in the journal Nature by a collaborative team of Indonesian and Australian archaeologists. This finding represents a significant milestone for understanding human artistic expression and migration in prehistoric times according to Reuters, CBS News, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

The hand stencil is created by blowing pigment over a hand placed against the cave wall, a technique that suggests a developed artistic tradition. Each hand stencil features retouched fingertips that resemble claws, a style unique to the region. Study co-author Maxime Aubert noted that this artistic form indicates a deeper cultural meaning, although its exact significance remains uncertain according to Reuters, CBS News, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

The researchers used advanced dating methods by sampling mineral crusts surrounding the art, confirming its age through precise measurements of uranium decay, which revealed the stencil to be older than comparable Neanderthal cave art found in Spain. This finding is not only pivotal for rock art chronology but also offers clues about how early humans dispersed across regions leading to Australia according to Reuters, CBS News, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

The findings support the theory that ancient humans likely migrated from Asia to Australia over 65,000 years ago, possibly traveling through a northern maritime route via Indonesia or a southern route overland. These prehistoric artworks essentially affirm the presence of modern humans in these regions earlier than previously documented, intertwining the narratives of migration and cultural evolution according to Reuters, CBS News, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.