154k views
3 votes
Sulawesi, Indonesia, oldest cave paintings, 35,000 BCE, discovered 1950s and radiocarbon and uranium dated in 2014

Where are the oldest cave paintings in Sulawesi, Indonesia, located?

A) Java
B) Sumatra
C) Sulawesi
D) Bali

User Zennon
by
7.2k points

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

The oldest cave paintings in Sulawesi, Indonesia are located in Leang Tedongnge cave within the Maros-Pangkep limestone cave system, where the earliest known representational artwork featuring a Sulawesi warty pig was found.

Step-by-step explanation:

The oldest cave paintings in Sulawesi, Indonesia are located in the limestone caves known as Maros-Pangkep, specifically in a cave called Leang Tedongnge. Discovered in the 1950s and more thoroughly dated in 2014 through radiocarbon and uranium-series dating, these paintings include the world's earliest known representational work of art.

One of the significant finds in these caves is the painting of a Sulawesi warty pig, which dates back to at least 43,900 years ago. This discovery is exceptional because it suggests the presence of sophisticated artistic expression in the area long before it was documented in Europe and challenges the notion that Europe was the epicenter for the emergence of cave art.

User Kris Jordan
by
7.7k points