Ancient bird stencils discovered in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

Taçon, Paul S.C.; Langley, Michelle C.; May, Sally K.; Lamilami, Ronald; Brennan, Wayne; Wesley, Daryl

doi:10.1017/s0003598x00066679

Cited by 42 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Malarrak, Djulirri and Bald Rock were recorded in detail during the 2008-2010 field seasons. Malarrak includes four separate rockshelters while at Djulirri the complex was so large that time permitted the recording of only three large adjoining rockshelters (rock faces, ceilings, and associated rocky outcrops) out of 55 in close proximity (see Taçon et al 2010aTaçon et al , 2010b and dozens more sites nearby. Finally, at Bald Rock a single large rockshelter was documented.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Painting History: Indigenous Observations and Depictions of the ‘Other’ in Northwestern Arnhem Land, Australia

May

Taçon

Wesley

et al. 2010

Australian Archaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper we focus on contact rock paintings from three sites in northwestern Arnhem Land, Australia. In doing so we highlight that such sites provide some of the only contemporary Indigenous accounts of cross-cultural encounters that took place across northern Australia through the last 500 years. Importantly, they have the potential to inform us about the ongoing relationships that existed between different parties. The lack of research on contact rock art is emphasised and the development of a large-scale project (of which this fieldwork is part) aimed at addressing this problem is outlined. Important new findings for contact rock art are presented, including evidence for 'traditional' protocols relating to rock art continuing long after first contact, evidence for particular contact period subject matter dominating in art of this region, and the oldest date yet recorded for contact art in Australia.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Painting History: Indigenous Observations and Depictions of the ‘Other’ in Northwestern Arnhem Land, Australia

May

Taçon

Wesley

et al. 2010

Australian Archaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In northern Australia, there are archaeological sites as old or older (e.g. see Clarkson et al 2017), and the earliest art also consists of stencils and large naturalistic animals, including extinct species, based on the superimposition of different styles (Chaloupka 1993;Taçon, Langley et al 2010;Taçon, Tan et al 2014 (Walsh 2000). Perhaps there were ancient Pleistocene connections across the region or shared cultural practices that first peoples brought with themthis needs further scientific investigation.…”

Section: Pleistocene Connectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The contemporary importance and future of Sulawesi’s ancient rock art

Taçon¹,

Ramli²,

Hakim³

et al. 2018

The Archaeology of Sulawesi: Current Research on the Pleistocene to the Historic Period

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In October 2014, the world learned that the oldest surviving hand stencils and rock paintings of animals were located in southern Sulawesi rather than in Europe. These results, produced using uranium-series dating methods, were the first reported Pleistocene ages for figurative rock art imagery in Island Southeast Asia. We summarise this discovery and its significance in relation to associated research on the oldest rock art of Europe before discussing future research priorities including contemporary concerns about the rock art's conservation that resulted from discussions between the authors and others in 2015. This review is relevant for rock art research not only for the greater Sulawesi region but also many other parts of the world.

show abstract

“…During this visit, most likely the first by any non-Indigenous person, Poignant photographed key rock paintings shown to him by Lazurus and was told of their significance. In the 1970s, George Chaloupka (1993) photographed and described parts of Djulirri's main panels but further research did not take place until 2008 when an intensive recording programme of the entire site commenced (see May et al 2010;Taçon et al 2010). Across a 55m length of dissected sandstone, Djulirri's main gallery was A Minimum Age for Early Depictions of Southeast Asian Praus in the Rock Art of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory found to contain more than 1100 paintings, 17 stencils, one print, and 46 figures made from native beeswax in three adjacent wall/ ceiling areas (May et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Minimum Age For Early Depictions Of Southeast Asian Praus in the Rock Art of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Taçon

May

Fallon

et al. 2010

Australian Archaeology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In 2008, we began two related research projects that focus on recent Australian rock art, made after the arrival of Asians and Europeans, in part of northwest Arnhem Land's Wellington Range. This area has extensive and diverse rock art, including many examples of paintings that reflect contact between local Aboriginal people and visitors to their shores. At some sites figures made of beeswax are found superimposed under and over paintings, thus providing a means of obtaining minimum and maximum ages for pigment art. We report on the results of an initial radiocarbon beeswax dating programme at the Djulirri site complex. Results include the earliest age for a depiction of a Southeast Asian watercraft in Australian rock art, which is also Australia's earliest contact period rock art depiction discovered so far. Based on the probability distribution of the calibrated ages, it is 99.7% probable this image dates to before AD 1664 and likely is much older. The significance of this result is discussed in relation to early contact history, as revealed by historic documents and archaeological excavation. Other important results suggest a close encounter between local Aboriginal people and Europeans occurred in the 1700s, before British exploration and settlement in the Arnhem Land region.

show abstract

Ancient bird stencils discovered in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

Abstract: The discovery of rare bird stencils from a unique Australian rock art complex is reported, the species they most closely resemble is discussed and their significance in terms of world rock art and climate change is highlighted.

Cited by 42 publications

References 7 publications

Painting History: Indigenous Observations and Depictions of the ‘Other’ in Northwestern Arnhem Land, Australia

Painting History: Indigenous Observations and Depictions of the ‘Other’ in Northwestern Arnhem Land, Australia

The contemporary importance and future of Sulawesi’s ancient rock art

A Minimum Age For Early Depictions Of Southeast Asian Praus in the Rock Art of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About