Scientists have identified a life-size portrait of a kangaroo as Australia s oldest rock painting. The ancient art, described Monday in the journal Nature Human Behavior, is between 17,500 and 17,100 years old.
Researchers in western Australia have been working to date all ancient cave art
They are using a technique that involves radiocarbon dating mud wasp nests
The nests overhang the ancient pieces of art painted to the sides of caves
The 2m drawing of a kangaroo was dated to between 17,500 and 17,100 years old
It sits on the Unghango clan estate in Balanggarra country, Western Australia