World’s oldest known painting, 40,000 years old, found in Borneo jungle
A thick-bodied animal in red ocher: Researchers have found older man-made images, but these were abstract patterns, such as crisscrossing lines. The switch to figurative art represented an important shift in how people thought about the world around them — and possibly themselves. Carl Zimmer, “In Cave in Borneo Jungle, Scientists Find Oldest Figurative Painting in the World” at New York Times We actually don’t know that there aren’t older painting (or newer crisscrossed lines). This one was only just found. The caves contain thousands of other images, including hand stencils, animals, abstract signs, and symbols: The animal appears to have a spear shaft stuck in its flank and is one of a series of similar red-orange coloured paintings, which Read More ›