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Oldest known picture dating back 51,000 years features humans in odd situation

Adventurous researchers have discovered a 51,000-year-old cave painting which is likely the oldest artwork of people in the world, however what it depicts is baffling

The painting was found in an area considered to be unique due to the ancient culture and ceremonial traditions maintained by the tribal inhabitants(Image: Getty Images)

Researchers have discovered what they believe to be the oldest painting featuring humans in the world.

The scene was discovered in a cave on a remote island 1,200km north of Australia, and it depicts a rather odd situation. Despite the painting being in poor quality, the researchers who found it believe that it is an image of humans interacting with a very large pig.

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The image, which was uncovered on the island of Sulawesi, now home to a tropical Indonesian village, can be dated back as far as 51,000 years thanks to new technology which is able to precisely date rocks and the carbonate layers of art.

The ancient panting shows humans and a large pig(Image: Griffith University)

Professor Adam Bumm, part of the team that discovered this incredible artwork, spoke to the media, saying: “[Pigs] were clearly economically important to these early people... symbolically and perhaps even spiritually.”

He said it is impossible to tell at the moment whether the painting depicts people worshipping the pig or hunting it, since the culture that spawned the image is long lost.

The new technology for dating art was invented by experts at Griffith and Southern Cross universities. One of these experts, Professor Aubert, said: “Our new LA-U-series technique is more accurate, allowing us to date the earliest calcium carbonate layers formed on the art and get closer to the point in time the art was created. It will revolutionize rock art dating.”