A hand stencil on a cave wall in Indonesia dating back at least 67,800 years is the world’s oldest known rock art and adds to evidence that modern humans had reached India and Southeast Asia about 65,000 years ago on their way to Australia. Researchers announced on Wednesday that mineral layers over a hand stencil in a limestone cave on Muna island in southeastern Sulawesi suggest it is at least 67,800 years old — slightly older than a 66,700-year-old Neanderthal hand stencilin Spain. ADVERTISEMENTThe Muna island hand stencil, distinguished by its antiquity, is among more recent painted cave art elsewhere in Sulawesi, including 13 more hand stencils, seven paintings of animals, and three paintings with human-like figures dated from 51,000 years to 4,000 years ago. Most archaeological evidence and genetic studies on Aboriginal Australians and Papuans had suggested that modern humans arrived in Australia only about 50,000 years ago. “The new cave art date on Australia’s doorstep supports the earlier chronology,” Aubert said.

Source: The Telegraph January 22, 2026 12:14 UTC