World's Oldest Oil Paintings [60-Second Science]

Podcast Episode: The Taliban destroyed international treasures when they wrecked the ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan region. But new treasures have now been revealed.  Cave walls behind where the statues stood are adorned with paintings from the fifth and sixth centuries. The paintings depict sitting Buddhas surrounded by palm trees and mythical creatures. Scientists recently published a study showing that some of these works were painted with oils, centuries before the technique was employed in Europe. The study was published in the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. [More]