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Lab Notes: The oldest rock art in the world…that we know of
Thursday, 22 January, 2026
A faint orange hand stencil on the wall of a cave in Indonesia just became the oldest art known to science. The art, made by splattering ochre over a hand, had been painted over by subsequent generations and was only preserved because moisture combined with the limestone of the cave to form a protective layer on top. The finding strengthens the picture that humans migrated via Borneo, Sulawesi and Papua to reach Australia at least 65,000 years ago. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.Get in touch with us: labnotes@abc.net.auFeaturing: Jacinta Bowler, ABC science reporter Extra information: Hand stencils discovered in an Indonesian cave are oldest-known rock artRock art from at least 67,800 years ago in SulawesiThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.
