Archaeologists Identify 67,800-Year-Old Hand Stencil as Potential Oldest Rock Art
Archaeologists have identified a hand stencil in an Indonesian cave as potentially the world's oldest known rock art, dating back approximately 67,800 years. The prehistoric image was created by spraying a mixture of ochre and water over a hand pressed against the cave wall. This discovery in Indonesia pushes back the timeline for early human artistic expression and provides new insights into prehistoric creative practices.
Key facts
- Hand stencil dates to approximately 67,800 years ago
- Created using ochre pigment mixed with water
- Made by spraying pigment over a hand placed on cave wall
- Located in a cave in Indonesia
- Potentially the oldest known rock art in the world
Entities
Artists
- prehistoric artist
Locations
- Indonesia