Below are some images from a recent visit to Kakadu National Park and west Arnhem Land (Northern Territory, Australia). I am interested in rock art and prehistory generally. This part of Australia has some fantastic examples of rock art. Although some of the artistic conventions (such as the X-ray style of painting) developed only in the last few thousand years, the rock art tradition in this part of Australia dates back tens of thousands of years and includes some of the world's oldest known rock art. Except where noted all images were taken with a K-01 and Sigma 18-200/3.5-6.3 DC II.
One of the first sites we visited was Injalak in west Arnhem Land. It was a hot day - about 40C (105F) - and we had a fairly step climb up the hill. There were numerous sites with art. Below is a view from one of the rock shelters, looking south towards the escarpment country of Arnhem Land.
White, yellow and red ochre, plus black charcoal provide the four colour palette of the artists. Most sites have multiple images painted over each other. The reason for the overpainting is that the act of painting itself has spiritual significance. The finished product is less important. All Aboriginal people who live within their culture possess particular "stories" passed to them by the older generation. A story may relate to how a certain animal came to be. It is the responsibility of the individual to maintain the story and painting the animal connects the individual with the animal and the story. Individuals may only paint their own story. (This is a highly simplified explanation.)
The panel below contains many images of fish (such as barramundi and saratoga) but also animals (for example, a kangaroo which has been overpainted by a barramundi - just right of centre).
More fish in another panel. These demonstrate the X-ray style of painting which shows the spinal column, usually the digestive tract, and sometimes reproductive organs. The animal in white and red on the left side of this panel is a thylacine (sometimes called a Tasmanian Tiger). This marsupial carnivore looked very much like a dog (as case of convergent evolution) with stripes on the hindquarters and tail. It is presumed to have become extinct soon after the dingo arrived, about 4,000 years ago. It survived in Tasmania (which the dingo never reached) until European times, but is now presumed extinct there too.
The view across the East Alligator River flood plains from Ubirr Rock in Kakadu National Park. It is the end of the dry season and the grass in being burnt off even though some early storms have already produced new growth. The sunsets from Ubirr can be fabulous.
A Mimi (spirit) figure at Ubirr. The Mimi are believed to have been painted by people who preceded the current Aboriginal people of Arnhem Land. The explanation that the current Aboriginal people developed was that the Mimi had created the land and animals, etc. When the Mimi had finished they placed themselves on the rock. But at night they may still leave the rock and roam around. The Mimi are often painted with their weapons (in this case, a spear thrower in the right hand and spears in the left) and a dilly bag in which other items are carried. Some paintings show a series of dashes coming from the mouth, which may have indicated some sound or speech.
More Mimi at Ubirr, with a long necked freshwater tortoise on the right. The oval object in the centre may represent a fish trap.
Another thylacine, this time at Ubirr. The back of the animal has been partly washed away, but it is obvious what the drawing represents. The painting must be at least a couple of thousand years old. (This image was taken using a Zeiss Sonnar 135/3.5)
Finally, a panel from Nourlangie shelter in Kakadu. The three main figures (in white) were painted in the early 1960s. But age means little as this is a contining millennia old tradition. The small figure on the right of the trio is one of the Lightning Brothers, identifiable by the lightning bolts travelling from his head to his feet. The elders of Arnhem land have decided that no more painting will occur on these older sites. They are to be left to be studied and to learn about the past. Rock painting now continues at new sites, so the tradition should not die out.
Thousands of art sites have been located and recorded in Arnhem Land. It is believed that thousands more are yet to be discovered.