Indonesia: Climate change wrecking ancient cave paintings in Sulawesi Islands

A new study revealed that oldest-known hand stencil drawing is degenerating at an ‘alarming rate’ due to climate change. island of Sulawesi in Indonesia consists of a cave art that dates back more than 45,000 years. ancient cave paintings include depictions of animals, mixed human and animal figures, hand stencils drawn in red and mulberry pigments, and is considered earliest known narrative scene in prehistoric art.

Climate change affecting rock art 

Leang Tedongnge cave in Maros-Pangkep region of Sulawesi consists of hand stencil art dating back 39,900 years and rock art showing a warty pig that is at least 45,500 years old. As per a statement, anecdotal evidence suggests that paintings have been ‘deteriorating’ at an accelerated rate in recent deces. Jillian Huntley and colleagues investigated potential causes of accelerated rock art degration at 11 cave art sites in Maros-Pangkep. This was done by analysing flakes of rock that h begun to detach from cave surfaces. scientists found salts including calcium sulfate and sodium chloride in flakes of rock at three of sites. y also found high levels of sulphur, a component of several salts, at all 11 sites. findings indicate that process of salt-related rock art degration is widespre in Maros-Pangkep.

study authors wrote, “Cave paintings in Sulawesi and Borneo are some of earliest evidence we have that people were living on se islands”. y ded, “Tragically, at almost every new site we find in this region, rock art is in an vanced stage of decay”. 

As per scientists, repeated changes in temperature and humidity caused by alternating periods of seasonal rainfall and drought contribute to salt crystal formation and rock art degration. y propose that se changes may be accelerated by rising global temperatures and increasing frequency of extreme wear events due to climate change. To prevent this, long-term monitoring and conservation efforts are needed, concluded authors.

(Image Credits: Unsplash)