World’s oldest cave art discovered in Indonesia’s Muna island

Archaeologists have discovered the world's oldest known cave art on Muna Island, Indonesia. Published on January 22, 2026, the research reveals that hand stencils found in limestone caves are approximately 67,800 years old. Indonesian and Australian researchers analyzed the tan-colored drawings, which were created by blowing pigment over hands pressed against cave walls. The discovery was made by archaeologist Adhi Agus Oktaviana, who has been searching for hand stencils in the region since 2015. Researchers suggest the artists may have intentionally reshaped the fingertips in the stencils, possibly to depict something other than a human hand. The findings, published in the journal Nature, highlight a unique artistic style previously only found in Sulawesi.

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