Article Title: Pig Painting May Be World’s Oldest Cave Art Yet
Link: Pig Painting May Be World’s Oldest Cave Art Yet, Archaeologists Say
Summary: In a discrete cave tucked away on an island in Indonesia, an image of a pig has been discovered. What makes this pig special is that it’s believed to be the oldest known work of cave art. It is estimated to be 45,500 years old. It was discovered during an archaeological survey done by Basrasn Burhan. The cave is in Sulawesi and also has 43,900-year-old artwork of human-animal hybrids. There is a debate as to whether homo sapiens had once inhabited the island or if it was members of an extinct human species. The only skeletons found have resembled hominins, a broader concept as opposed to the specific modern-day human. The artwork does resemble elements such as twisted perspective that correlate elements of modern humans’ prehistoric art, however. The topic is extremely controversial. The archaeologists are sure of the image’s credibility because the cave is virtually impossible to reach without special measures. They also used reliable uranium-series dating to determine its minimum age. The archaeologists believe that there is more to be discovered on the island. Although this is true, they must discover these works fast. Scientists state that the works are being exfoliated and may soon disappear due to the long duration of time they are believed to have been here. Research crews are working against the clock to reveal history before it is gone forever.
Personal Reflection: These discoveries bring many questions to light when it comes to the history of art, communication, expression, and even anatomy. Simple discoveries can lead to possible ideas and new information. It is also surprising to learn that some essential works of art could be gone very soon. It presents the importance of the research as we work to discover more about where we came from and how we communicated with one another.