Ancient Sulawesi Cave Art Faces Destruction from Indonesia’s Worst Wildfires
Indonesia's historic 67,000-year-old cave paintings in Sulawesi face urgent threats from severe wildfires, risking permanent damage to ancient rock art.
POLICY WIRE — Maros-Pangkep, Indonesia — The world’s oldest known cave paintings, located on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, are currently facing a critical threat from the nation’s most severe wildfire season in over ten years.
Researchers have issued urgent warnings that the intense heat and thick smoke generated by these spreading blazes could rapidly accelerate the degradation of these prehistoric masterpieces. The artwork, which dates back more than 67,000 years, is situated across the karst landscapes of South Sulawesi.
Archaeologists are particularly concerned about the impact of the fires on the delicate rock surfaces that house these ancient human-made images. As the fires continue to burn across the region, experts are monitoring the sites in the Pangkajene and Islands (Pangkep) Regency to assess the potential for permanent damage to these irreplaceable cultural treasures.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
