Oldest Known Hand Stencil Discovered in Sulawesi Cave

Category : International Published on: March 03 2026

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A hand stencil found in a limestone cave on Muna Island has been dated to at least 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest known rock art identified to date. Discovered in the Liang Metanduno cave, the artwork extends the timeline of symbolic expression in Southeast Asia and highlights early human cultural complexity.
Researchers documented 44 rock art sites in the region, with seven hand stencils among motifs directly dated using uranium series methods on natural calcite deposits. The analysis established a minimum age of 67,800 years, predating previous records from Maros–Pangkep by over 16,000 years.
The stencil features a rare claw-like shape, suggesting symbolic links between humans and animals. This discovery also sheds light on early human migration in Wallacea, supporting evidence that seafaring communities with symbolic traditions existed along maritime routes connecting Borneo and Papua during the Pleistocene. It underscores the artistic and cognitive sophistication of early humans nearly 70,000 years ago.