67,800-Year-Old Hand Stencil Rewrites History of Rock Art and Human Migration

A 67,800-year-old hand stencil discovered in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is now recognized as the oldest known example of rock art, predating previous discoveries in the region by at least 15,000 years. The finding, made by an international team of researchers, offers fresh insights into the cognitive abilities of early modern humans and the routes they took during their initial migrations.

Uranium-Series Dating Confirms Age

The hand stencil was found within the limestone caves of southeastern Sulawesi, specifically on Muna Island, alongside other, more recent paintings. Researchers utilized advanced uranium-series dating techniques to determine the artwork’s age. This involved analyzing tiny mineral layers that had formed over and under the paintings in Liang Metanduno cave, establishing the timeframe during which the art was created Nature.

Oldest Known Rock Art

The analysis revealed a minimum age of 67,800 years for the hand stencil, making it the oldest reliably dated cave art discovered to date. This discovery surpasses the age of previously dated rock art in Sulawesi and even exceeds the age of the oldest known cave art attributed to Neanderthals in Spain by over 1,100 years Nature.

Repeated Artistic Activity Over Millennia

The research indicates that the Muna cave was a site of repeated artistic activity spanning at least 35,000 years, with painting continuing until approximately 20,000 years ago Nature.

Unique “Claw-Like” Hand Motif

The hand stencil is notable for its unique design. After the initial stencil was created, the outlines of the fingers were intentionally narrowed, resulting in a “claw-like” appearance, a motif not previously documented in other rock art National Geographic.

The meaning behind this alteration remains uncertain. Researchers speculate it could symbolize a connection between humans and animals, a theme already present in other early Sulawesi rock art, including depictions of part-human, part-animal beings Nature.

Implications for Sahul Settlement

The discovery has significant implications for understanding the peopling of Sahul, the ancient landmass that once connected Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. It strengthens the “long chronology” model, which proposes that humans arrived in Sahul at least 65,000 years ago, and supports the idea that the ancestors of Indigenous Australians were present in the region by that time Nature.

Northern Migration Route Confirmed

The dating of the Sulawesi art provides evidence supporting a northern migration route into Sahul, through Sulawesi and the Spice Islands to New Guinea. This clarifies the debate surrounding how early humans traveled to the region Nature.

Researchers emphasize the archaeological importance of the Indonesian islands between Sulawesi and New Guinea, suggesting they played a crucial role in the early human migration across the region National Geographic.

Further Research

The research team, supported by organizations like Google Arts & Culture and the National Geographic Society, continues to investigate early human art and settlement along the northern migration route Nature.

Reference: Oktaviana, A. A., et al. “Rock art from at least 67,800 years ago in Sulawesi.” Nature, 21 Jan. 2026, doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09968-y.