Elena Rossi
The earliest paintings in the world are found on almost every continent, with the earliest examples of rock art and cave paintings discovered in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The oldest known figurative art painting is a warty pig found in Sulawesi's Leang Karampuang cave in Indonesia, dated to at least 51,200 years ago. Other ancient cave paintings include those discovered in Borneo, France, Spain, India, and Australia, with some sites containing charcoal drawings and hand stencils dating back 28,000 to 40,000 years. These prehistoric artworks provide valuable insights into the beliefs and cognitive abilities of early humans, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of art and humanity's capacity for symbolic thinking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Leang Karampuang, Indonesia |
| Age | 51,200 years old |
| Subjects | Anthropomorphic figures interacting with a pig |
| Artists | Homo sapiens, possibly Neanderthals |
| Techniques | Finger tracing, clay modelling, engravings, bas-relief sculpture, hand stencils, paintings in two or three colours |
| Common Subjects | Large wild animals, tracings of human hands, abstract patterns |
| Other Notable Examples | 40,000-year-old painting of an unknown animal in Lubang Jeriji Saléh, Indonesia; 35,400-year-old painting of a babirusa in Sulawesi, Indonesia; 28,000-year-old charcoal drawings in Nawarla Gabarnmang, Australia; 1000-3000 BC rock art in Dhambalin, Somalia; 700 AD paintings in the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, Japan |
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What You'll Learn
The oldest cave paintings in the world
One of the most notable discoveries of early cave art is located in Indonesia, on the island of Sulawesi. In 2014, researchers found coloured outlines of human hands and depictions of animals, including a babirusa and a warty pig. Using innovative dating techniques, these paintings have been estimated to be at least 35,000 to 52,000 years old, challenging previously held beliefs about the origins of art.
In 2018, the Lubang Jeriji Saléh cave on the Indonesian island of Borneo revealed another remarkable find. Archaeologists discovered the oldest known figurative art painting, depicting an unknown animal. This artwork is believed to be over 40,000 years old, possibly even as old as 52,000 years.
Moving to India, the Ambadevi rock shelters in Tamil Nadu boast cave paintings that date back 25,000 years. These ancient artworks depict ancient Paleolithic scenes found in several sites across the state, including Kombaikadu, Kilvalai, Settavarai, and Nehanurpatti.
Outside of Asia, the Padah-Lin Caves of Burma contain 11,000-year-old paintings, along with numerous rock tools. In Australia, the Nawarla Gabarnmang site in Arnhem Land features charcoal drawings radiocarbon-dated to 28,000 years ago, making it the oldest site in Australia with reliable date evidence.
Additionally, the discovery of prehistoric rock art in France and Spain has contributed significantly to our understanding of early art. The Lascaux Caves near Bordeaux, with their 17,000-year-old paintings, and the Chauvet Cave with its 28,000 to 37,000-year-old artworks, are notable examples. The latter features spectacular depictions of lions and rhinos, showcasing the artistic prowess of early modern humans.
These ancient cave paintings, spread across the globe, serve as enduring reminders of our shared human history and the creative spirit that has long been a part of our collective journey.
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Prehistoric rock art in Indonesia
The earliest paintings in the world are cave paintings, which have been discovered in various locations across the globe. While it is challenging to pinpoint the exact oldest painting, some of the earliest cave art has been found in Indonesia, dating back tens of thousands of years.
Indonesia, specifically the island of Sulawesi, is home to some of the oldest known rock art in the world. The limestone caves of the Maros-Pangkep region in South Sulawesi contain ancient cave paintings that provide valuable insights into prehistoric cultures. These paintings include stencils created by blowing or spraying reddish pigment around hands pressed against the cave walls, as well as sketches of animals such as fruit-eating pigs known as babirusas or "pig-deers."
The dating of these paintings has been facilitated by the use of uranium-thorium radioisotope dating techniques on the mineral deposits, known as "cave popcorn," that built up over the artwork. One of the hand stencils from these caves was found to be at least 39,900 years old, while a painting of a babirusa was dated to at least 35,400 years ago. Another notable discovery is a hunting scene from Leang Bulu' Sipong 4, which was originally dated to a minimum of 43,900 years ago but has since been reassessed using laser-ablation U-series imaging to have a minimum age of 50,200 years.
In 2018, scientists reported the discovery of an even older figurative art painting in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saléh on the Indonesian island of Borneo. This artwork, estimated to be over 40,000 years old and possibly as old as 52,000 years, depicts an unknown animal. More recently, in 2021, archaeologists announced the discovery of cave art in the Leang Tedongnge cave in Indonesia, dating back at least 45,500 years. This artwork depicts a warty pig and is considered the earliest evidence of human settlement in the region.
The prehistoric rock art in Indonesia challenges the traditional view that the tradition of rock art originated in Europe. These ancient paintings in Indonesia suggest that cave painting was a widespread cultural tradition among the first modern humans as they spread out of Africa into Asia and Australia, long before reaching Europe. The discovery of this ancient art expands our understanding of early human cultures and their artistic expressions.
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Ancient rock art in Europe
Rock art is widespread in Europe and has been produced since the Upper Palaeolithic period. It is found in all major regions of the continent, with more than 200 rock art sites open to the public. The art is often found in rural settings, in open-air landscapes, on boulders, and outcrops.
One of the most famous examples of parietal art in Europe is the Grotte Chauvet in France, which contains paintings made by early modern humans between 28,000 and 37,000 years ago. Other notable locations include Lascaux in France, Altamira in Spain, and the Lascaux Caves near Bordeaux, which feature prehistoric art that is more recent, dating back to around 15,000 BC and 17,000 years ago, respectively.
Atlantic rock art, characterised by abstract geometric motifs, is found in Portugal, Spain, France, Britain, and Ireland. The most well-known landscape of Atlantic rock art is Galicia in northwestern Spain, featuring hundreds of carvings situated in the Valley of the River Lérez. Over 6,000 examples of Atlantic art exist in the UK, with over 2,000 found in Scotland, and the highest concentration in Kilmartin Glenn, Argyll.
Prehistoric carvings are also significant in the Scandinavian landscape, with two distinct traditions. The 'Northern Tradition' is found mainly in northern Scandinavia and features carvings of boats, humans, reindeer, moose, and other wild animals. The 'Southern Tradition' is found in southern Norway and Sweden and is known for its magnificent images of armed warriors and ships, as well as numerous abstract motifs.
While cave paintings are often considered the oldest form of art, it is challenging to determine the exact oldest painting. However, some of the earliest known paintings include the 51,200-year-old anthropomorphic figures interacting with a pig found in Leang Karampuang, and the 40,000-year-old painting of an unknown animal in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saléh on the Indonesian island of Borneo.
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The oldest non-cave paintings
The oldest cave paintings in the world are found in Indonesia, specifically in the caves in the district of Maros in Sulawesi, which are famous for their handprints. In 2014, a study based on uranium-thorium dating placed the handprints at a minimum age of 39,900 years. Another discovery of a babirusa painting within the caves was dated to at least 35,000 BC.
In 2018, scientists reported the discovery of the oldest known figurative art painting, over 40,000 years old (perhaps as old as 52,000 years), of an unknown animal, in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saléh on the Indonesian island of Borneo.
In 2021, archaeologists announced the discovery of cave art in Indonesia dated to at least 45,500 years ago. This artwork, found in the Leang Tedongnge cave, depicts a pig and is the oldest known surviving example of a narrative scene.
In 2024, it was reported that a cave painting in Indonesia's Sulawesi island was dated to be approximately 51,200 years old, making it the oldest known figurative art painting in the world. This painting depicts anthropomorphic figures interacting with a pig.
Outside of Indonesia, some of the oldest cave paintings in the world are found in France and Spain, with the paintings in Chauvet Cave, Ardèche, France, commonly thought to be around 30,000 to 32,000 years old. The Padah-Lin Caves of Burma contain 11,000-year-old paintings, and the Ambadevi rock shelters in India have paintings dating back 25,000 years.
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Prehistoric art on the island of Sulawesi
The island of Sulawesi in Indonesia is home to some of the world's oldest cave art. In 1985, anthropologists documented a series of paintings in a cave near Leang Timpuseng, one of which was the Sumpang Bita cave. In recent years, paintings from one of these limestone caves were dated to more than 45,500 years ago, making them the oldest cave art ever found.
Sulawesi's cave art features depictions of an anoa, a small buffalo native to the island, and warty pigs, medium-sized, greyish-black swine that move around in small groups. There is also an image that appears to be a boat, which is probably a more recent addition. The most common discernible animal images seem to represent the island’s largest endemic land mammals: suids and dwarf bovids (anoas, Bubalus sp.). Images of suids are strongly dominant, with 73 separate motifs identified in Maros-Pangkep and Bone, most of which are believed to portray Sus celebensis, or the Sulawesi warty pig.
The discovery of prehistoric art in Sulawesi challenges the idea that the tradition of rock art originated in Europe. In fact, researchers now believe that prehistoric Indonesia was a "hotspot" for rock art. The artwork in the caves of Sulawesi is now protected in a cultural prehistoric park and a national park.
In 2024, the journal Nature published research findings indicating that the cave paintings depicting anthropomorphic figures interacting with a pig in Leang Karampuang, Indonesia, were approximately 51,200 years old, making them the oldest known figurative art paintings in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The earliest paintings in the world have been found in caves, with notable examples in Indonesia, France, India, Spain, and Australia.
The oldest paintings in the world are thought to be between 40,000 and 52,000 years old.
The earliest paintings in the world are largely of animals, with the most common subjects being large wild animals such as bison, horses, aurochs, and deer.
The earliest painters used a variety of techniques, including finger tracing, clay modelling, bas-relief sculpture, hand stencils, and paintings in two or three colours.
