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Ancient Hand Stencil Found: Oldest Rock Art at 67,800 Years

1/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers identified a hand stencil in a cave on Muna Island, Indonesia, dating to at least 67,800 years ago, potentially the oldest known rock art, published in Nature.
The discovery suggests early humans used ochre to make art and may reflect a complex relationship with animals.
The stencil's claw-like fingers may reflect deeper symbolic meanings.
Ongoing research aims to broaden understanding of this ancient artistic tradition.

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Story summary

Researchers identified a hand stencil in a cave on Muna Island, Indonesia, dating to at least 67,800 years ago, potentially the oldest known rock art, published in Nature.
The discovery suggests early humans used ochre to make art and may reflect a complex relationship with animals.
The stencil's claw-like fingers may reflect deeper symbolic meanings.
Ongoing research aims to broaden understanding of this ancient artistic tradition.