The world's oldest painting more than 40,000 years old has been discovered in deepest Borneo, scientists have revealed.

The red and orange cave art depicting a bison-like creature is the earliest known coloured image of a figure.

The dramatic discovery adds to mounting evidence cave art – one of the most important innovations in human cultural history – did not arise in Europe as long believed.

Ice Age artists in Southeast Asia played a key role in its development, said archaeologist Professor Maxime Aubert.

The world's oldest painting more than 40,000 years old has been discovered in deepest Borneo, scientists have revealed. The red and orange cave art depicting a bison-like creature is the earliest known coloured image of a figure. The dramatic discovery adds to mounting evidence cave art – one of the most important innovations in human cultural history – did not arise in Europe as long believed. Ice Age artists in Southeast Asia played a key role in its development, said archaeologist Professor Maxime Aubert.