Authors: Ben Ruhe
Date Submitted: August 31, 2004
Article Type: Journal

Wolfgang Bieck and wife Mona Hie, of Bad Bevensen, Germany, made a second expedition to Muna island in Indonesia to more closely examine the cave painting of a man flying a kite that has now been viewed and photographed by several groups. The issue is age. Is the painting ancient—-if so it may trump the Chinese claim to having invented the kite—-or is it a modern day fake, as some suspect?

Bieck documented the mural with 360-degree virtual reality video and and made closeup photos as well as pinpointing its GPS position within three meters. He made other tests about which he is close-mouthed, although taking a sample of the paint was not one of them, for reasons of conservation. Complex dating tests are presumably in the works right now.

An Indonesian group from Jakarta led by Sari Majid viewed the painting late last year but has not responded to questions about its findings.

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