Unlocking New Rock Art Sites in Sarolangun, Jambi: An Exploratory Study

Irsyad Leihitu* and Ari Mukti Wardoyo Adi

The Sarolangun Regency in Jambi Province remains a highly promising landscape for prehistoric archaeological research, particularly regarding rock art in Sumatra. This exploratory study expands the spatial distribution data of rock art by surveying previously unrecorded areas, with a focus on Meribung Village. Systematic field surveys were integrated with ethno‑archaeological interviews of local inhabitants to identify potential karstic occupation sites; the investigation documented two new rock art sites (Ceruk Mambu and Ceruk Kayu Aro 1) and identified three additional potential sites for future study (Gua Kayu Aro 2, Gua Celentang, and Gua Nikwan). The newly recorded motifs provide important evidence of ancient symbolic practices, including active hunting depictions and stylistic affinities with other documented sites in the region. Notably, the discovery of an anthropomorphic figure with distinctive cranial morphology suggests a localized iconographic variation or stylistic identity. These findings enrich the corpus of Southeast Asian rock art and underscore the significance of the Sarolangun karst as a key locus for prehistoric cultural expression in the Indonesian archipelago.