Scientists uncover ancient hand stencil in Indonesian cave, pushing back the origins of rock art to 67,800 years ago.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have unearthed what may be the world's oldest known rock art - an intricately drawn hand stencil on the wall of a cave on Indonesia's Muna Island. The image, created by spraying ochre mixed with water over a hand pressed against the wall, is believed to date back at least 67,800 years.
Experts say that if confirmed, this finding would challenge our understanding of how and when humans first settled Australia, as well as the migration routes taken by their ancestors across Southeast Asia.
"This is an intimate window into the past," said Prof Maxime Aubert, lead researcher on the project at Griffith University in Queensland. "We're not just looking at a piece of art; we're seeing a glimpse of people's lives and culture over tens of thousands of years."
The Liang Metanduno stencil shows characteristic narrow, pointy fingers that researchers believe were intentionally modified by its creator. However, some experts caution against overly interpreting the hand stencil, suggesting it could have been caused unintentionally.
"We need to be careful not to read too much into this," said Prof Paul Pettitt of Durham University, who worked on similar discoveries in Spanish caves. "We shouldn't assume that just because we've found complex rock art here, it must necessarily be the work of Homo sapiens."
The hand stencil's age and possible connection to other human species such as Neanderthals or Denisovans highlight the complexities of human evolution and migration patterns.
"It's a fascinating phenomenon," said Prof Pettitt. "Before writing grand narratives about the complexity and success of Homo sapiens, we really should consider other explanations."
The discovery also underscores the importance of continued exploration and research into Southeast Asia's rich cultural heritage, particularly in regions like Indonesia that have long been overlooked by archaeologists.
"The cave paintings are a window into the past," said Prof Aubert. "And Liang Metanduno is an opportunity for us to learn more about human migration patterns and culture."
The Liang Metanduno discovery has sparked significant interest among researchers, offering new insights into the history of rock art in Indonesia and its potential connections to other cultures around the world.
As the scientific community continues to unravel the mysteries surrounding this ancient hand stencil, one thing is clear: the past holds many secrets waiting to be uncovered.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have unearthed what may be the world's oldest known rock art - an intricately drawn hand stencil on the wall of a cave on Indonesia's Muna Island. The image, created by spraying ochre mixed with water over a hand pressed against the wall, is believed to date back at least 67,800 years.
Experts say that if confirmed, this finding would challenge our understanding of how and when humans first settled Australia, as well as the migration routes taken by their ancestors across Southeast Asia.
"This is an intimate window into the past," said Prof Maxime Aubert, lead researcher on the project at Griffith University in Queensland. "We're not just looking at a piece of art; we're seeing a glimpse of people's lives and culture over tens of thousands of years."
The Liang Metanduno stencil shows characteristic narrow, pointy fingers that researchers believe were intentionally modified by its creator. However, some experts caution against overly interpreting the hand stencil, suggesting it could have been caused unintentionally.
"We need to be careful not to read too much into this," said Prof Paul Pettitt of Durham University, who worked on similar discoveries in Spanish caves. "We shouldn't assume that just because we've found complex rock art here, it must necessarily be the work of Homo sapiens."
The hand stencil's age and possible connection to other human species such as Neanderthals or Denisovans highlight the complexities of human evolution and migration patterns.
"It's a fascinating phenomenon," said Prof Pettitt. "Before writing grand narratives about the complexity and success of Homo sapiens, we really should consider other explanations."
The discovery also underscores the importance of continued exploration and research into Southeast Asia's rich cultural heritage, particularly in regions like Indonesia that have long been overlooked by archaeologists.
"The cave paintings are a window into the past," said Prof Aubert. "And Liang Metanduno is an opportunity for us to learn more about human migration patterns and culture."
The Liang Metanduno discovery has sparked significant interest among researchers, offering new insights into the history of rock art in Indonesia and its potential connections to other cultures around the world.
As the scientific community continues to unravel the mysteries surrounding this ancient hand stencil, one thing is clear: the past holds many secrets waiting to be uncovered.
like 67,800 yrs old!!! 
i think its hella cool that scientists are finally gettin into these caves in indonesia & uncoverin all this ancient history 
its def not just some random drawing lol. ppl need to chill & not overthink it 
i mean its a hand stencil but who knows what kinda vibes were goin on back then 
I can imagine the person who created this hand stencil having a special connection to their community and culture. And it's crazy how much we can learn from something as simple as a hand print 
. It just goes to show that even the smallest things can hold so much significance. I'm excited to see where further research takes us! 
the fact that some experts are bein cautious about overinterpreting it is a good thing, too many people would jump to conclusions about this stuff. lets just say its a major find & we should be excited to learn more! 
And what's crazy is that this discovery might challenge our understanding of Australia settlement and Southeast Asian migration routes. Mind. Blown. 
. We need to be careful not to jump to conclusions and assume it's all about Homo sapiens. The Liang Metanduno stencil is definitely an interesting find, but let's take a step back and let the science unfold before we start writing grand narratives 
.
. 67,800 years old? That's already pushing the boundaries of what's plausible. I mean, think about it, if we're so good at creating art and stuff, why did our ancestors only manage to create this one masterpiece? What were they doing all those other times when no one was looking? 
.
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." 
. I'm actually kinda surprised they didn't find it in Australia, considering how much we know about Aboriginal rock art and stuff. But hey, who knows what our ancient Aussie ancestors were up to back then? Maybe they had their own version of the Liang Metanduno stencil 
. Still, can't wait to learn more about this! 
. It's awesome that researchers are exploring more of this region and sharing their findings with the world 
.
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67,800 years ago and we're just now like "hey, what about you guys?" 
.