Wildfires approach ancient Sulawesi rock-art sites

Wildfires on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island have come within 800 metres of ancient rock-art sites in the Maros-Pangkep region, raising concern that heat and smoke could damage paintings dating back tens of thousands of years. Firefighter Muhammad Ikfar said more than 270 hectares of parkland burned between September 30 and October 18. The threat includes a Maros-Pangkep cave painting showing humanlike figures interacting with a pig, which researchers dated to at least 51,200 years old. A hand stencil on Muna Island, off Sulawesi, has been dated to at least 67,800 years old. Griffith University archaeologist Basran Burhan warned that heat from nearby fires could change temperatures around the paintings and accelerate corrosion, even without flames reaching the caves. He said smoke could leave soot on the artwork, obscuring its details and making it harder to identify. The reports do not establish that the paintings have already suffered measurable damage. The fires have spread into South Sulawesi, where limestone caves preserve the artwork. Indonesia is experiencing its most intense forest and land fires since 2015, with dry conditions associated with a severe El Niño contributing...