32,000 Year Old Pig Rock Art at Leang Balangajia
Can you locate where the images are?
A few meters inside the cave, images of hand stenciled using red pigment from ochre can be found on the right side of the wall.
Two human figures and an anoa
These are images of two human figures in standing positions and half of anoa's body facing right.
Looking the rock art images that made 32 thoudand years ago (2021) by Dominic Research Organization for Archaeology, Language and Literature, National Research and Innovation Agency
The main chamber from 32,000 years ago
The main chamber has images of small and large pigs, birds, and hand stencils.
The largest pig image in Sulawesi
The image is nearly two meters wide, making it the largest pig image in Sulawesi. The common pattern of the pig, depicted with hair on the back and neck wattles, is related to half domestication (see Brumm et al., 2021).
The recording of Leang Balangajia is made possible with the support of local people (featured on the right below image).
The menacing vines on the cave wall
Several rock art motifs disappear when the vines grow over the walls. The damage affects the hand stencils and animal images. See how traces of the vines are visible on the cave walls and ceiling.
The geometrical image on a small chamber
The images were likely made by a finger brush directly on the cave wall.
Black geometric motif in Balangajia Cave by Adhi Agus Oktaviana and Ryan Sebastian Research Organization for Archaeology, Language and Literature, National Research and Innovation Agency
Black charcoal painting on a very small chamber
A thorough examination of a cave is standard for rock art archaeologist. One of the images resembles a ship with several mats was found in a very small chamber of the cave.
A pig image with hand stencils at Balangajia site at Maros (2018) by Adhi Agus Oktaviana Research Organization for Archaeology, Language and Literature, National Research and Innovation Agency
Visit other cave with more rock art pig paintings that looks like baloons!
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