World's oldest wall painting unearthed in Syria

William Haskins · Oct 11, 2007

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - French archaeologists have discovered an 11,000-year-old wall painting underground in northern Syria which they believe is the oldest in the world.

The 2 square-meter painting, in red, black and white, was found at the Neolithic settlement of Djade al-Mughara on the Euphrates, northeast of the city of Aleppo, team leader Eric Coqueugniot told Reuters.

"It looks like a modernist painting. Some of those who saw it have likened it to work by (Paul) Klee. Through carbon dating we established it is from around 9,000 B.C.," Coqueugniot said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSOWE14539320071011?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

photo:

JoNightshade · Oct 11, 2007

Either some cave dude was just screwin' around or it's some sort of complex message!

Maybe it's a calendar?

C.bronco · Oct 11, 2007

Cool! It could have been a map or plan of some sort, perhaps left by a civil engineer or its 90000 b.c. counterpart.

robeiae · Oct 11, 2007

Here it is.

C.bronco · Oct 11, 2007

Indeed!
Either that, or this: http://www.bctd.org/UserFiles/Image/Mall_of_America.jpg

Perks · Oct 11, 2007

I think it's really retro wallpaper.

And I think it's awesome. I love to cast my thoughts back that far. 11,000 years ago, somebody stood there and made that design. And that person had a life and thoughts and an itch and a favorite food.

I love stuff like that.

Celia Cyanide · Oct 11, 2007

I agree. This is awesome. What a discovery!

whistlelock · Oct 11, 2007

that is so cool.

unless ofcourse it was put there and magically aged by the Devil so that it appears to be 11,000 years old but is only about 2000.

and then that'd be cooler.

A. Hamilton · Oct 11, 2007

Very cool.
It's interesting that it's assumed it's decorative. It almost looks like a tally chart or data collection or something. It'll be interesting to see what the other painting next to it is.

Tiger · Oct 11, 2007

Ah, it's a site grid from an ancient archeological dig. Well, when you don't have paper, the wall has to do.

Susan Gable · Oct 11, 2007

Tiger said:
Well, when you don't have paper, the wall has to do.

Don't tell the kids that, okay?

Still...very cool!

Susan G.

blacbird · Oct 11, 2007

whistlelock said:
unless ofcourse it was put there and magically aged by the Devil so that it appears to be 11,000 years old but is only about 2000.

Or proof of ancient astronauts.

caw

Tiger · Oct 11, 2007

Let's all bury our artwork! Even twenty feet or so would completely screw up future archeologists.

aadams73 · Oct 11, 2007

That's really fantastic!

KTC · Oct 11, 2007

It's a suicide note. I know it. It depresses me.

tourdeforce · Oct 11, 2007

This is a fake.

God had not even created the Earth 11,000 years ago.

And lets assume that it was created a little after that, wouldn't this have likely been trampled by a dinosaur?

joetrain · Oct 11, 2007

yes, i love it when ancient art and modern art look the same. its all circular *draws circle with finger* cir-cu-lar. the end is nearest when the beginnings are repeated. *prophetic cackle and cough*

whistlelock · Oct 11, 2007

I have to wonder though, did it match the couch?

joetrain · Oct 11, 2007

looks like it'd go great with an animal skin and venus of wilendorf motif. ooh, i want a shower curtain with the design.

tourdeforce · Oct 11, 2007

I have a problem calling anything art when Haskins kids could have done it.

InfinityGoddess · Oct 11, 2007

Things like this always fascinate me.

William Haskins · Oct 11, 2007

tourdeforce said:
I have a problem calling anything art when Haskins kids could have done it.

damn...

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Oct 11, 2007

Over to the right... that dark spot... it doesn't look like Damien, does it?

Voyager · Oct 11, 2007

Prehistoric Jenga

Bird of Prey · Oct 11, 2007

Ol' Fashioned Girl said:
Over to the right... that dark spot... it doesn't look like Damien, does it?

Hard to tell. Could be: axis of evil and all that. I'm sure Syria's a contender by now. . . .

But then maybe we'll never know.

Or maybe they'll ship it out of the country before it gets blown to smithereens.

World's oldest wall painting unearthed in Syria

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