World’s Oldest Cave Art Found in Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has revealed new findings regarding the dating of the world's oldest rock paintings. This finding confirms Indonesia's contribution to the development of science, particularly in the field of prehistoric archaeology, and has received international recognition thru reputable scientific publications.

The head of the Center for Environmental, Maritime, and Sustainable Cultural Research at BRIN, Marlon Nicolay Ramon Ririmasse, explained that the findings were published in the journal Nature. He conveyed this during a press conference at the BJ Habibie Building in Jakarta on Thursday, 22 January 2026.

He stated that the publication in the international journal was the result of a long-term research collaboration between BRIN and Griffith University, Australia. The research collaboration has been ongoing for several years and has demonstrated significant productivity in producing globally recognized scientific publications.

"This research is a collaborative effort between BRIN, specifically the Research Organization for Archaeology, Languages, and Literature. This collaboration with Griffith University has been ongoing for approximately 10 years," Marlon stated.

This discovery, located in southeastern Sulawesi, is a significant milestone for Indonesian archaeological research. Besides enriching knowledge about the early history of human art, the findings also strengthen Indonesia's position in the study of world prehistory.

Marlon conveyed that the success of the publication in the journal Nature demonstrates the strength of the scientific review process for the research conducted. However, he emphasized that pride in the findings must be accompanied by responsibility to preserve and protect them. "The most difficult part of that pride is how to maintain these findings," he said.

In addition to scientific publications, the research collaboration between BRIN and Griffith University also produced various knowledge dissemination products. One of the research findings was even used as material for the George Lucas Museum in the United States through a collaboration with Google Arts & Culture, as an effort to expand the reach of Indonesian educational and cultural diplomacy at the international level.