The oldest evidence of story-telling cave paintings has been found dating back more than 51,000 years.
Experts have been astonished to discover figurative cave paintings on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
It appears to depict a big red pig and a group of people, but can you guess how many there are?
“This is the oldest evidence we have of a story,” archaeologist Maxim Aubert of Australia’s Griffith University told AFP.
Writing in Nature, the researchers said the discovery marks the first time the 50,000-year barrier has been broken.
Oberle was also involved in the excavation of the last record holder in 2019, which depicted a hunting scene estimated to be around 44,000 years old.
“It’s probably just a matter of time before we find even older samples,” he added.
Using new laser technology, scientists were able to carefully reveal this fascinating picture.
Using advanced computer software, they were able to create a “map” of the rock samples.
This laser technique is more accurate than traditional uranium-series methods, and is easier, faster and cheaper, and requires much smaller rock samples.
“Our findings suggest that storytelling is a much older part of human history than previously thought,” archaeologist Adam Blum, co-author of the study, said at a press conference.
The image has the potential to rewrite our understanding of human cognitive evolution.
But researchers admit they’re not sure what they’re doing with this piece of art.
Obert believes the paintings were probably made by the first groups of humans to pass through Southeast Asia before arriving in Australia, about 65,000 years ago.
The first known drawings made by humans are simple lines and patterns drawn in ochre 100,000 years ago discovered in South Africa.
However, there is a “large gap” in human art until the cave paintings in Indonesia 50,000 years later.
“The question is, why isn’t it everywhere?” Obert said.
One theory is that artworks from other places could not survive for thousands of years.
Another is that ancient works of art may still be waiting to be discovered somewhere.
You might be wondering how many people are depicted in this art, and it’s 3. Take a look at the image below to see where they are: