In December 2025, archaeologists working at the Liang Metanduno Cave on Muna Island, part of Indonesia’s Sulawesi region, made a landmark discovery that challenges our understanding of early human art. A 67,800‑year‑old hand stencil was found, now regarded as the oldest known human-made artwork ever discovered. This revelation significantly alters the timeline of human creativity and artistic expression, pushing back the origins of symbolic thought in humans far earlier than previously believed.
The stencil was created by placing a hand against the cave wall and spraying ochre pigment around it, a simple but profound act of human expression. While the design itself is modest in form, it carries immense significance as evidence of early humans’ capacity for symbolic thought. Researchers used uranium-series dating, a precise scientific technique, to analyze mineral deposits that had formed over the stencil, establishing its remarkable age. This discovery offers new insight into the cognitive and social capabilities of early humans, suggesting that symbolic expression, previously thought to be confined to later periods, may have appeared much earlier.
A Breakthrough in Archaeological Dating
The age of the hand stencil was determined using laser-ablation uranium-series dating, a sophisticated method that measures the radioactive decay of uranium in mineral layers that have accumulated over the artwork. The analysis confirmed that the stencil dates back to at least 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest known example of rock art found on a cave wall. This finding was published in January 2026, underscoring its significance in the broader context of archaeological discoveries.
Before this discovery, the oldest examples of cave art were primarily from Europe, with hand stencils found in Spanish caves, dating back to around 64,000 years ago. The Indonesian find pushes the timeline of human creativity further back, indicating that early humans may have engaged in symbolic expression long before the previously accepted dates for cave art.
The Muna Island Discovery
Muna Island, located in the Sulawesi region of Indonesia, is an important site in the study of early human history. The island and its surrounding regions have been the focus of archaeological research due to previous discoveries of ancient rock art, some of which date back approximately 40,000 years. The recent discovery of the 67,800-year-old stencil adds to the growing body of evidence that early humans in Southeast Asia engaged in symbolic and artistic behaviors much earlier than what was previously believed.
The hand stencil is a faint outline created by spraying ochre pigment around the hand, a technique commonly found in prehistoric rock art worldwide, from Australia to Europe. However, what sets this stencil apart is its extraordinary age, making it a crucial piece of evidence in the study of early human artistic expression. It not only shifts our understanding of art but also redefines the global history of human creativity.
Shifting the Timeline of Human Creativity
The 67,800-year-old hand stencil challenges the long-standing Eurocentric view of where and when human creativity first emerged. Before this discovery, European cave art from sites such as Chauvet and Lascaux was considered the oldest, but this Indonesian discovery shows that symbolic thought and artistic behavior likely began much earlier in Southeast Asia.
This finding prompts a reevaluation of how symbolic behavior developed and suggests that it may have emerged in different regions of the world, independently of each other. It highlights the complexity of human cognitive evolution and broadens the understanding of early human abilities, showing that art was not restricted to specific regions but instead developed in various human populations across the globe.
Understanding Human Migration and Expression
The timing of the hand stencil’s age coincides with other evidence suggesting that early humans may have migrated from Southeast Asia to Australia around 65,000 years ago. The stencil provides further evidence that symbolic behavior was a part of these early human movements, not just a physical migration but a journey enriched with cultural and creative expression.
This discovery suggests that art may have been more than just a creative outlet—it could have served as a symbol of presence, a way to mark territory or identity, or even as part of ritualistic practices. The exact meaning of the stencil remains speculative, but its existence points to the role that symbolic expression played in human communities during this time.
For archaeologists, the hand stencil offers a tangible connection between migration and artistic expression, showing that early humans were not just exploring new lands but also creating ways to communicate and express themselves culturally during their movements.
Scientific Significance and Future Exploration
The process of dating the stencil underscores the importance of scientific advancements in archaeology. Uranium-series dating has allowed researchers to accurately determine the age of ancient artifacts, and this method is now a cornerstone of studies involving prehistoric rock art. The ability to date rock art with such precision is a breakthrough that allows for a deeper understanding of the chronology of human creativity.
This discovery has also opened up new possibilities for future research. Archaeologists are now turning their attention to other caves in Sulawesi and surrounding islands, where similar rock art may exist. The region remains largely unexplored, and the discovery of this stencil suggests that there may be more prehistoric art waiting to be uncovered.
As scientists continue their explorations, the 67,800-year-old hand stencil is a reminder of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding early human history. Archaeologists, chemists, and geologists all worked together to unlock the secrets of this remarkable artwork, and their combined expertise will likely lead to more discoveries in the future.
