There are some caves in the world that are more than just natural formations. They are thousands, even millions, of years old, far predating human history and existence. Let us know about some of the oldest caves in the world.
Liang Karampuang Cave, Indonesia
The title of the world’s oldest cave painting is currently held by the Liang Karampuang Cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Research conducted in 2024 revealed a painting that is at least 51,200 years old. The artwork shows a wild boar interacting with three human-like figures. Scientists say this shows that humans were capable of telling stories even 50,000 years ago. Laser-based uranium series technology was used to determine the age of the painting.
Maltravieso Cave, Spain
In this Spanish cave, scientists have discovered red hand stencils that are approximately 64,000 years old. These predate the arrival of modern humans in Europe. This means that this artwork was created by Neanderthal people, which proves wrong the long-held belief that only Homo sapiens were capable of symbolic expression.
Thielman Cave, South Africa
If the oldest cave is measured in terms of human use rather than art, then this cave in South Africa is unmatched. Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest human ancestors lived here about 20 years ago. Stone tools belonging to Homo habilis have been found deep inside the cave. Even more surprising is the evidence of controlled use of fire about 10 years ago, making the cave one of the earliest known sites of human habitation.
Bhimbetka Caves, India
The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in Madhya Pradesh, India are another gem of human history. These caves contain paintings that are more than 30,000 years old. These caves show scenes of hunting, animals, dance and everyday life. It is worth noting that this place has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some caves are important not for the evidence of human activity but for their geological age. The Jenolane Caves of Australia are considered to be the oldest known open cave system in the world, having formed about 340 million years ago. In addition, there are the Sudwala Caves in South Africa, whose rocks are 2.8 billion years old.