In Paris, a cave painting of a large wild boar with three human figures around it is believed to be the oldest work of art in the world, dating back 51,000 years. This archaeological discovery was announced by a group of scientists who had previously discovered a hunting scene in another nearby cave in 2019, estimated to be 44,000 years old. Made with red pigments, this painting is the oldest evidence of a narrative, according to archaeologist Maxime Aubert from Australia’s Griffith University.
Using a new method that employs lasers and computer software for dating, researchers were able to determine the age of the cave painting. This new technique, which is precise, easy, fast, and cost-effective, provided more accurate dating results compared to the previous uranium series method. The team applied this laser procedure to an undated painting in a cave on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, discovered in 2017, revealing that it was at least 51,200 years old.
The discovery of this ancient art suggests that storytelling may have been a much older part of human life than previously thought, and raises questions about the artistic void in prehistoric art. While humans are believed to have first evolved in Africa over 300,000 years ago, the earliest known human-made images only date back to about 100,000 years ago in South Africa. The mystery of why there is a significant gap in artistic expression before the cave paintings in Indonesia, 50,000 years later, remains unanswered.
One theory is that prehistoric art outside of Indonesia did not survive over time, while another suggests that there may be undiscovered ancient art waiting to be found. The discovery of the cave paintings in Indonesia challenges the previously held belief that the first narrative art emerged in Europe, and raises the possibility that figurative art was first produced in Africa over 50,000 years ago before spreading to other regions as humans dispersed. Further research and dating are necessary to confirm these findings and explore the origins of ancient art.