A research team in Indonesia has discovered a new gallery of Pleistocene-era cave paintings in a remote karst system in South Sulawesi. The murals depict extinct megafauna, including a species of prehistoric pig and a dwarf buffalo (anoa), rendered in dark red ochre. Initial uranium-series dating suggests the art is at least 42,000 years old.
This finding reinforces the theory that Southeast Asia was a major center for early human symbolic expression, rivaling the famous cave art of Europe. The high level of anatomical detail in the animal figures suggests that the hunter-gatherers of the Pleistocene possessed a sophisticated understanding of their environment and complex spiritual beliefs.