World's Oldest Cave Art found Showing Humans and a Pig

The latest and oldest piece of cave art to be discovered has been found in the caves of Karampuang Hill in the Indonesian Island of South Sulawes , scientists say the new figurative cave art is at least 51,200 years old and predates the previous title holder by around 5,000 years or more.

The painting shows a pig standing still with its mouth partly open and at least three human-like figures. The largest human figure has both arms extended and appears to be holding a rod. The second is immediately in front of the pig with its head next to its snout. It also seems to be holding a stick, one end of which may be in contact with the pig’s throat. The last human-like figure seems to be upside-down with its legs facing up and splayed outwards. It has one hand reaching towards and seemingly touching the pig’s head.

The team of scientists was led by Adhi Agus Oktaviana, an Indonesian rock art specialist from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Jakarta. He says that that narrative storytelling was a crucial part of early human culture in Indonesia from a very early point in time.

“Humans have probably been telling stories for much longer than 51,200 years, but as words do not fossilise we can only go by indirect proxies like depictions of scenes in art – and the Sulawesi art is now the oldest such evidence by far that is known to archaeology,” he said.
www.bbc.co.uk...

Cool to think that picture was painted long before everything we know of our history.

a reply to: gortex

I can see the pig but not the humans, was there any mention of why they think the other figures are human? It’s not even peradolia.

Interesting thing to ponder

Are they hunting the pig on the island? If so, how did it get there?

If not, then they used boats to get somewhere else? Where?

My mind wanders.....

Thanks for sharing!

Also, I wish it was clearer. It looks like a pig snout, right above the pig, but that is all that looks real clear.

a reply to: gortex

Is it a Wild Boar they have hunted?

a reply to: AllisVibration

I'm not a cave art specialist but if an Indonesian rock art specialist says that's what they are I'm inclined to believe his interpretation, other examples have been discovered.

Now, using a more sensitive dating technique, the archaeologists found that the rock art is at least 4,000 years older than previously thought, making it around 48,000 years old. More strikingly, the archaeologists found a similar depiction of the human-like figure and warty pig at another cave in Leang Karampuang that was at least 51,200 years old, making it the oldest known narrative art. Their findings were published Wednesday (July 3) in the journal Nature.
www.livescience.com...

originally posted by: Oldcarpy2
a reply to: gortex

Is it a Wild Boar they have hunted?

No doubt , he's a big lad though ... much feasting must have been had.

a reply to: gortex

Probably not many Vegans about then.

a reply to: gortex

If it was a language I too would be inclined to believe the interpretation, but an actual drawing where the pig looks like a pig, but the so called humans look like tiny scribbles of nothing discernible in comparison… I’m not going to take what an expert says at face value, just because they are an expert doesn’t mean they are always right. We have learned this with many examples.

originally posted by: AllisVibration
a reply to: gortex

If it was a language I too would be inclined to believe the interpretation, but an actual drawing where the pig looks like a pig, but the so called humans look like tiny scribbles of nothing discernible in comparison… I’m not going to take what an expert says at face value, just because they are an expert doesn’t mean they are always right. We have learned this with many examples.

Pre written "language" cave drawings were the "language". Many drawings depicting hunts, moon cycles and their meaning or sagas about individuals have ben discovered. Using comparative analysis, the "experts" are able to decipher many of these tales so, when they say that, at a minimum, this drawing depicts 3 persons and a boar, I would be inclined to assert they are most likely correct.

a reply to: chiefsmom

Pigs are actually very good swimmers.

a reply to: gortex

David Cameron will be over the Moon.

a reply to: AllisVibration

That's your choice but we are looking at a photograph they have the ability to look closer at the actual picture and have the knowledge to compare it with other examples found locally.

They've published their findings and conclusion in a scientific journal which I imagine will go into greater detail about the discovery and their conclusion than a news piece put together for plebs like you and I.

If an expert tells me the Vincent van Gogh I've got in my bathroom is an original I'm more inclined to believe him than the guy next door who says it's a print.

Swimming with pigs:

www.swimmingwithpigs.com...

Figure 1 looks kinda like the ancient Venus female form.
Figure 2 a bearded man
The pig looks like a very realistic pig for an ancient cave painting best I’ve seen.
a reply to: gortex

a reply to: andy06shake

Let's not go there.......

a reply to: Oldcarpy2

Think that's what the pig tried to say.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: Oldcarpy2

Think that's what the pig tried to say.

Which pig? That’s a pretty picture of Dave and his niece. I heard that sometimes the genes skip a generation, she’s a lucky girl if that’s true!

a reply to: Dalamax



There has got to be a gender reveal joke in there somewhere methinks.

So in the spirit of such here is one somebody made earlier.

a reply to: gortex


I would love to see chemical analysis of the pigments in the picture , or if it was on Rothchild owned land where this was discovered , much like all the cave paintings in France ??.

Maybe it was a ancient cooking manual for pork and human meat

a reply to: gortex

Can't Ever keep a Man Away from his Pork . Timeless