Shocking discovery: Asia is the cradle of art

Scientists have identified paintings in a cave in Sulawesi Island (Indonesia) that is up to 40,000 years old.

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This finding shows that Asia, not Europe, is the place where abstract art is born.

According to AFP, cave paintings in the Maros region of southern Sulawesi were discovered 50 years ago. However, until now, scientists at Griffith University and Wollongong University in Australia have identified them dating back to 40,000 years.

The paintings are 35,400 - 40,000 years old in caves in Sulawesi, Indonesia - (Photo: Nature)

The paintings in the cave draw wild animals, human figures and human fingerprints. Dr. Maxime Aubert of Griffith University said that the shapes of stone walls are dated to 39,900 years. Picture a pig dating back at least 35,400 years.

Some other drawings date to 27,000 years. That means the residents of Maros have been constantly painting in caves for 13,000 years. Experts also discovered many paintings in another cave in Bone, about 100km from Maros.

The paintings at Bone also have the same art style with paintings in Maros and can be drawn in the same period.

Professor Chris Stringer of the London Museum of Nature (UK) said the discovery in Indonesia is extremely important because it shows the view that art creation originated in Europe and only developed in the Another area long after that is completely wrong.

Will Roebroeks, of the University of Leiden, said the findings show the importance of Asia, especially Southeast Asia, with human development. Many experts also argue that there is enough evidence to show that people who know art creation from Africa 60,000 years ago and go around the world.