JAKARTA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be the world's oldest known cave art, a hand stencil dated to at least 67,800 years ago, in a limestone cave on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, according to a study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

The discovery was made by an international research team involving Indonesian and Australian archaeologists.

The artwork was found in Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island, part of Sulawesi's karst landscape.

Researchers used uranium-series dating to analyse microscopic mineral layers that formed on and beneath the painting, establishing a minimum age that exceeds previous rock art discoveries in the region by more than 15,000 years.

The study suggests the cave was used for artistic activity over an extended period of time, with paintings created repeatedly over a span of at least 35,000 years.

Scientists said the findings provide important evidence for understanding early human migration into Sahul, the ancient landmass that once connected Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania.

The team believes the Sulawesi artists were closely linked to the ancestors of Indigenous Australians, supporting theories that modern humans may have reached Sahul by at least 65,000 years ago.

The hand stencil is considered a globally unique variant, with its finger outlines deliberately narrowed after creation, possibly reflecting symbolic or cultural meaning. ■