World history and art research has shown that the earliest known oil paintings were discovered in caves located in which of the following countries?

Introduction / Context:
This question combines general knowledge about art history with geography. Many people assume that oil painting began in European Renaissance art, but scientific studies have revealed much older examples. The earliest known oil paintings were found on the walls of caves and Buddhist murals, which changes the way we think about where and when this painting technique was first used.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers to the worlds earliest known oil paintings.
- It specifies that these paintings were found in caves in a particular country.
- The options are China, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Iran.
- We assume that the question is based on research that used chemical analysis to confirm the medium as oil based paint.

Concept / Approach:
The main concept is factual recall of a surprising discovery. For many years, textbooks focused on Europe when discussing oil painting. However, scientific studies of ancient murals in Central Asia showed that artists there used drying oils centuries before Europeans did. Remembering that these important caves are in Afghanistan helps you map art history beyond traditional narratives and answer correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall reading about ancient Buddhist cave paintings in the Bamiyan region of Afghanistan. Step 2: Scientific examinations revealed that these murals used oil based binders, making them the earliest known oil paintings in the world. Step 3: Compare this with China and India, which also have ancient cave art, but where the earliest confirmed oil paintings in this context are not recorded. Step 4: Recognise that Pakistan and Iran have rich artistic traditions, but the specific research about the earliest oil paintings focuses on Afghan caves. Step 5: Select Afghanistan as the only option that exactly matches this discovery.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a verification step, remember that the famous Bamiyan site in Afghanistan gained global attention both for its large Buddha statues and for the surrounding cave paintings. Conservation scientists, including teams supported by international organisations, analysed fragments and confirmed the use of oil based techniques many centuries before similar methods became standard in Europe. This association between Bamiyan, Afghanistan and the phrase earliest oil paintings confirms your answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
China has Dunhuang and other cave complexes with remarkable art, but the specific earliest oil painting discovery referred to in exams is linked to Afghanistan, not China.
India has ancient cave paintings in places such as Ajanta and Ellora, but these are primarily fresco and tempera, not the oil based works described in this research highlight.
Pakistan has rock art and Indo Islamic painting traditions, yet it is not the country named in this particular scientific study about earliest oil paintings.
Iran has a long history of miniature painting and murals but is again not the focus of this finding about cave oil paintings.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to choose India or China because they are better known to candidates and have famous caves. Another trap is to think only of European art and dismiss Central Asian sites. Some learners also guess Iran due to its artistic reputation in the Islamic world. To avoid these errors, pay attention whenever you read surprising superlatives in current affairs or science news, such as earliest, largest or first, and link them strongly with the specific location mentioned, in this case Afghanistan.

Final Answer:
The earliest known oil paintings in the world were discovered in caves located in Afghanistan.