Recent studies have suggested that prehistoric rock art is significantly older than previously believed, with claims of a hand stencil in Indonesia dating back 67,800 years. However, Georges Sauvet, a researcher at the Center for Research and Studies of Prehistoric Art in France, has raised concerns about the reliability of the uranium-thorium (U-Th) dating method used to establish these ages. Sauvet argues that U-Th dating often overestimates the ages of rock art due to the potential for uranium to leach from calcite deposits, leading to inaccuracies. He emphasizes the need for cross-validation with other dating methods to ensure the reliability of findings. This debate has implications for our understanding of the cognitive abilities of early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, particularly regarding artistic expression. While some researchers defend U-Th dating as a valuable tool when applied correctly, others highlight the discrepancies that can arise between U-Th and radiocarbon dating, sometimes showing differences of over 100,000 years. The ongoing discussion underscores the complexities of dating prehistoric art and the importance of employing multiple methods to achieve accurate results.