Where Was The First Art Found? Unearthing Humanitys Creative Origins

The origins of art have been traced back to various ancient civilizations, with the earliest known examples of art created on flat surfaces dating to approximately 30,000 years before the present (BP) or later. These artistic expressions emerged during different historical periods, including the Later Stone Age in Namibia, the Late Palaeolithic era in Egypt, and the Upper Palaeolithic period in Europe. These discoveries provide crucial insights into the development of human creativity and artistic expression across diverse regions and time periods.

The origin of art has long been a subject of intrigue among researchers, and recent findings suggest that Neanderthals, not modern humans, may have been the pioneers in this creative expression. Approximately 65,000 years ago, a Neanderthal individual left their mark on history by using red ochre to create strokes on the walls of a cave. This remarkable discovery has led scientists to assert that this Neanderthal individual can be credited as the Earth’s first known artist. The groundbreaking findings were reported on February 22, 2018, shedding new light on our understanding of early artistic expression and the cognitive abilities of our ancient human relatives.

Archaeologists have recently made a groundbreaking discovery, uncovering what is believed to be the earliest-known form of representational artwork in the world. This remarkable find consists of three vivid depictions of wild pigs meticulously painted onto the walls of Leang Tedongnge cave, located on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. These ancient artworks date back an astonishing 45,500 years, shedding light on the creative expressions of our distant ancestors. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances on January 14, 2021, provide invaluable insights into the prehistoric human culture and artistic endeavors.