Forest fires threaten the oldest cave paintings in Indonesia

Wildfires in Indonesia threaten ancient prehistoric cave art due to increased heat and smoke, accelerating corrosion of 67,000-year-old artworks. The El Niño phenomenon has caused drought and high temperatures, making areas like Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi susceptible to fires. Significant prehistoric art, including a 51,200-year-old mural and a 67,800-year-old hand stencil, is located in caves on Sulawesi. Archaeologist Basran Burhan warns that without immediate action, these invaluable historical artifacts may be lost. Over 270 hectares of land have burned, with flames reaching within 800 meters of the caves.