Leang-Leang Cave, Prehistoric cave complex in Maros Regency, Indonesia.
Leang-Leang is a prehistoric cave complex in Maros Regency in southern Sulawesi, consisting of several chambers within a karst formation. The limestone walls are decorated with hand prints and animal depictions that spread across different areas of the cave system.
Archaeological research shows that people inhabited and used the cave more than 51,000 years ago. The findings count among the oldest evidence of human artistic expression and come from the time of the first settlement of the region.
The cave paintings show stories of early inhabitants and the wild animals of the island, including the tusked deer-pigs with their curved fangs. Visitors can see these ancient scenes on the cave walls today and understand how people thousands of years ago perceived and depicted their surroundings.
The cave sits about 30 minutes by car from Makassar Airport within Bantimurung National Park. Local transport options are available at the park entrance, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes for exploring the terrain.
Researchers discovered child-sized hand prints among the wall paintings, created by spraying pigment directly from the mouth around the hand placed on the wall. This technique shows that even the youngest members of the community took part in creating the cave art.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
