51,200 Year Old Cave Painting Discovered

• 10 Jul 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recent research has revealed that the world's oldest known figurative cave painting is approximately 51,200 years old, as determined by the use of a new dating technique. 

• The painting is located on the ceiling of a limestone cave in the Island of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

What are the Key Observations about the Painting?

• Artistic Representation: The painting shows:
  • A pig standing still with its mouth partly open.
  • Three human-like figures surrounding the pig:
    • The largest figure with outstretched arms gripping a rod.
    • The second figure in front of the pig, holding a stick.
    • The third figure upside-down, with legs pointing upwards and one hand reaching toward the pig's head.
• Technique Used in Dating:
  • Researchers dated rock art using uranium series (U-series) analysis of calcite deposits in limestone caves.
    • Researchers used laser beams to compare the ratio of a specific isotope of uranium to a specific isotope of thorium in order to determine the age of the paintings.
      • An isotope is a variant of an atom within the same element, sharing the same atomic number and chemical properties but differing in atomic mass and physical characteristics.
  • This method was also used to date another cave painting at Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4, initially estimated to be 43,900 years old.
    • The findings showed the painting is at least 4,000 years older than previously thought.
  • There is a significant amount of rock art in locations such as Madhya Pradesh in India, but there has not been a dating method of this kind.
    • The oldest paintings of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh are estimated to be around 30,000 years old.
• Significance:
  • Researchers found that figurative art of humans and animals in scenes has deeper historical roots than previously thought.
    • Neanderthals began marking caves around 75,000 years ago, but their markings were non-figurative.
  • This not only provides insights into the cultural practices of early humans but also suggests the emergence of a sophisticated narrative tradition that employed visual arts to represent the relationships between humans and animals.

Bhimbetka Rock Paintings 

• Location: It is located south of Bhopal in Vidhyan ranges of Madhya Pradesh with rock shelters having more than 500 rock paintings.
  • The caves of Bhimbetka were discovered in 1957–58 by V. S. Wakankar
  • It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
• Timeline: The oldest paintings are estimated to be 30,000 years old and have survived due to its location deep inside the caves.
  • There is marked continuity in occupancy of the caves from 100,000 BC to 1000 AD with many paintings being painted on top of another.
    • In some places, there are as many as 20 layers of paintings, one on top of another
  • The paintings at Bhimbetka belong to Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic, early historic and medieval period.
    • However, most of the paintings belong to the Mesolithic age.
• Painting Techniques: Various colours like red ochre, purple, brown, white, yellow and green are used, obtained from natural resources.
  • Haematite ores were used for red colour and white probably from Limestone.
  • Green prepared from a green coloured rock called Chalcedony.
  • The Brushes were made of plant fibre.
• Themes of the Paintings: Every-day life of prehistoric men often in stick-like human figures.
  • Various animals like elephant, bison, deer, peacock and snake are depicted.
  • Hunting scenes and war scenes with armed men.
  • Simple geometric designs and symbols.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the (2018)

(a) Bundi school 

(b) Jaipur school

(c) Kangra school 

(d) Kishangarh school

Ans: (d)

Q. The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at (2017)

(a) Ajanta 

(b) Badami

(c) Bagh 

(d) Ellora

Ans: (a)