Gov't names caves with world's oldest painting as national heritage

Muna (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Culture has designated the Liangkabori and Liang Metanduno caves, which hold the world's oldest cave painting, in Muna Island, Muna District, Southeast Sulawesi, as national heritage.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon on Sunday confirmed that the caves' new status was sealed during the plenary meeting of the cultural heritage expert team last week, and it will be announced to the public in early August.

He stated that Liang Metanduno received global attention following the publication of research on the cave's painting, conducted in collaboration with Australia's Griffith University and Indonesia's Cultural Preservation Office, in January 2026.

"The research outcome has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2026 as the world's oldest non-figurative cave painting," Zon added.

The minister described the cave painting, which was found dated to at least 67,800 years ago, as challenging global consensus on the crucial stage of early human migration, currently dominated by the "out of Africa" theory.

The Liang Metanduno cave painting was older than those found in Leang Karampuang in South Sulawesi, aged at least 51,200 years, and the hand stencils in Spain's Maltravieso associated with the Neanderthals.

It is also far older than the cave paintings in France's Chauvet Cave (30,000-32,000 years ago) and Lascaux Cave (17,000 years ago).

"With our strong archaeological discovery, we should challenge old theories. The narratives of human migration may evolve to incorporate multiple migration pathways, including the proposed 'Out of Nusantara' or 'Out of Sulawesi' theories," Zon stressed.

"There are influences of colonialism in our science, as the Westerners always see us as relatively younger than they are in Europe," he added.

As a follow-up measure, the ministry will establish an ancient painting information center on Muna Island, carry out documentation work on all prehistoric rock paintings in the region, and set up its visual replica at the provincial museum for public knowledge.

The minister also expressed his gratitude to the provincial and local authorities, as well as local leaders, culture communities, and all residents involved in preserving the cave painting for generations and celebrated it through the Liangkabori Festival.

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Translator: La Ode Muh. Deden S, Nabil Ihsan

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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