Ancient Austronesian seafarers carried symbolic art 4,000 years ago
A 4,000-year-old painted stone plaque discovered on a remote Indonesian island is the first known example of portable art belonging to the Austronesian Painting Tradition (APT), providing a rare glimpse into the symbolic world of some of history's greatest maritime voyagers.
A 4,000-year-old painted stone plaque discovered on Wetar Island, Indonesia, marks the earliest known example of Austronesian Painting Tradition (APT) art carried by ancient seafarers. The distinctive red concentric-circle and radiating sun-ray design, characteristic of the APT, was found in a preceramic layer, indicating the tradition existed before pottery arrived in Island Southeast Asia.
Led by researchers from The Australian National University and Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency, the discovery challenges previous understanding and suggests APT symbols, such as the sun motif, were integral to shared identities among early Austronesian communities. The plaque's securely dated context provides a crucial age for this characteristic motif, offering insight into the symbolic world of maritime voyagers.
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