Discovery of the World’s Oldest Figurative Cave Painting

Discovery of the World’s Oldest Figurative Cave Painting

Sub : History

Sec: Art and Culture

Context: Researchers have recently unveiled a groundbreaking discovery in the field of archaeology: the world’s oldest known figurative cave painting, dating back an astonishing 51,200 years.

About the new discovery

• Discovery and Age of the Painting
  • The world’s oldest known figurative cave painting, located in Leang Karampuang cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia, has been dated to 51,200 years ago.
  • This discovery surpasses the previously oldest known cave art, a pig painting from Leang Tedongnge, Indonesia, by over 5,000 years.
• Description of the Painting
  • The painting depicts a red-pigmented scene featuring a wild pig with its mouth open.
  • Surrounding the pig are three figures that are part-human and part-animal (therianthropes).
  • The figures are depicted in dynamic poses, suggesting action and storytelling.
•  Significance of the Painting
  • The painting suggests a deeper origin of figurative art among modern humans (Homo sapiens) than previously recognized.
  • It highlights a culture of storytelling through visual art in the Late Pleistocene era, much earlier than similar scenes found in Europe.
•  Methodology: New Dating Technique
  • The dating was performed using uranium series (U-series) analysis of calcite deposits overlying the rock art in limestone caves.
  • Laser beams were used to analyse the ratio of uranium to thorium isotopes, allowing precise dating of the paintings.
  • This technique provided more accurate dating compared to previous methods, revealing the painting’s true age.
• Implications and Further Research
  • The discovery challenges previous notions about the timeline and sophistication of early human art.
  • It underscores the importance of scientific methods in archaeological research, providing insights into ancient human cultures and their artistic expressions.
  • Further exploration and dating of similar sites could provide additional understanding of early human creativity and cultural development.

Prehistoric paintings In India

• Discovery of Prehistoric Cave Paintings in India
  • Prehistoric cave paintings dating back to the Upper Palaeolithic era have been discovered worldwide.
  • In India, the earliest reported paintings date to the Upper Palaeolithic times, predating the discovery of Altamira in Spain.
• Early Explorations and Archaeologists
  • In 1867-68, Archaeologist Archibold Carlleyle discovered the first prehistoric rock paintings in India.
  • Renowned archaeologists such as Cockburn, Anderson, Mitra, and Ghosh further unearthed numerous sites across regions like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
• Characteristics of the Paintings
  • The paintings feature stick-like human figures, animals such as long-snouted creatures, foxes, and multi-legged lizards.
  • Geometric patterns in white, black, and red ochre are also commonly depicted.
• Notable Sites and Examples
  • Lakhudiyar, near Almora, hosts rock shelters along the River Suyal adorned with these prehistoric paintings.
  • Scenes include hand-linked dancing human figures, showcasing early artistic expression and social activities.
  • Superimposed paintings reveal layers of black, red ochre, and white, indicating successive periods of artistic activity.
• Other Forms of Artistic Expression
  • Engravings on slabs were discovered in Kashmir, offering additional insights into prehistoric artistic practices.
  • Granite rocks in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh feature paintings in white, red ochre, or combinations thereof at sites like Kupgallu, Piklihal, and Tekkalkota.
• Significance and Cultural Insights
  • These discoveries provide a glimpse into the lives, beliefs, and artistic capabilities of prehistoric humans in India.
  • They underscore the universality of early human creativity and the development of symbolic communication through art.