Minister of Culture Attends Documentary Preview on Indonesia’s Ancient Civilizations

Accompanied by several senior officials from the Ministry of Culture, Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon attended a special preview of the documentary film Peradaban Indonesia (Indonesian Civilization) at the Cinema Room of the Indonesian Film Censorship Board (LSF RI) in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/9).

Produced by the Ministry’s Cultural Media Center (Balai Media Kebudayaan), the documentary traces the development of Indonesian civilization through various archaeological discoveries offering a fresh and insightful perspective on the nation’s ancient past.

One highlight of the film is the discovery of what is now believed to be the world’s oldest cave painting: a scene depicting three human figures hunting pigs, found at Leang Karampung in Samangki Village, Simbang District, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi.

According to researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Griffith University, the painting is estimated to be 51,200 years old, surpassing the age of the previously oldest known cave art in Chauvet Cave, southern France, which is around 33,500 years old. “This is something we must amplify and share with the world,” Minister Fadli stated.

Minister Fadli also questioned the long-held theory that the ancestors of the Indonesian people originated from Africa part of the widely known "Out of Africa" hypothesis. “That theory has yet to be proven. We need to develop our own narrative about our origins,” he asserted.

The event underscored the growing synergy between the Ministry of Culture and LSF in promoting educational, high-quality, and culturally enriching content. The partnership, officials hope, will play a vital role in strengthening national identity through film. (Nuz)