World's Oldest 51,200-Year-Old Narrative Artwork Found in Indonesian Cave

Jul 3, 2024, 04:18 PM

Researchers have discovered the world's oldest known narrative artwork in an Indonesian cave, dating back more than 51,200 years. The painting, found in Leang Karampuang on the island of Sulawesi, depicts a pig and three human-like stick figures. This ancient artwork is considered the earliest known example of representational and visual storytelling. However, the art is rapidly deteriorating, and scientists are working to understand the causes of the damage and find ways to preserve these invaluable murals before they are lost forever.