The discovery of rock art in Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has provided significant insights into early human migration patterns. A recent study published in the journal Nature reveals that a stencil of a human hand, estimated to be over 67,800 years old, is now the oldest known rock art reliably dated, predating previous discoveries by approximately 16,600 years. This artwork, located in the Liang Metanduno cave, may represent the earliest traces of a population that migrated toward Australia.
According to study author Maxime Aubert from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, this finding highlights Sulawesi as a cradle of one of the world’s most enduring artistic cultures. He stated, “It is now evident from our new phase of research that Sulawesi was home to one of the world’s richest and most longstanding artistic cultures, one with origins in the earliest history of human occupation of the island.”
Sulawesi’s role in human history extends beyond its artistic contributions. It is believed to have served as a crucial stop for early Homo sapiens migrating from Asia to Sahul, the ancient landmass that once linked Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania. The recent research focused on various ancient rock art forms, including stencils of human hands, which were analyzed using advanced techniques such as uranium-series dating and mineral deposit analysis.
The team identified that the claw-like stencil in Liang Metanduno cave was created around 67,800 years ago, attributed to an artist likely connected to the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians. Adhi Agus Oktaviana, a study author from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, emphasized the connection, stating, “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.”
Previous research had proposed two timelines for the arrival of modern humans in Sahul: the “long chronology” around 65,000 years ago and the “short chronology” around 50,000 years ago. Scholars posited that these migrations occurred via two potential island-hopping routes: the northern route through Sulawesi and the southern route through Timor. The discovery of rock art in Liang Metanduno supports the notion of a sustained human presence in the region, with evidence of occupation lasting at least 35,000 years.
Renaud Joannes-Boyau, from the Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research Group at Southern Cross University, remarked, “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.”
The research team aims to further explore the artistic and migratory patterns of early humans, focusing on other Indonesian islands that lie between Sulawesi and New Guinea. Aubert noted the archaeological significance of these islands, suggesting they may hold key information about early human activities.
This groundbreaking study not only sheds light on the artistic heritage of early humans but also enhances our understanding of their migratory routes. As researchers continue to investigate these ancient sites, further discoveries may illuminate the complexities of human history and cultural development.
