The rock art of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II)

Memorialization and the Stencilled Rock Art of Mirarr Country, Northern Australia

“…Our results stem from this work that included the documentation of almost 700 sites between 2011 and 2015 (e.g. Hayward 2016a,b; 2017a,b; Johnston 2017; Johnston et al 2017; Jones & May 2017;May et al 2017;2018;Miller 2016;Wright et al 2014;2016). This area is renowned for its rich rock-art and archaeological heritage, with recent excavations in Mirarr Country dating occupation back to over 65,000 years bp (Clarkson et al 2017).…”

Navigating Contact: Tradition and Innovation in Australian Contact Rock Art

“…Even more convincing are the detailed analyses of individual sites and their superimposition to discuss chronology at a more local level (i.e., Chippindale and Taçon 1993). It is increasingly clear, however, that while there is great benefit in exploring the key styles that have been identified in the rock art, most rock art in this region does not fit into these larger regional stylistic chronologies (see, e.g., Chippindale and Taçon 1993;May et al 2017c).…”

“…Despite the fact that artists were painting familiar elements of daily life-animals, material culture, and activities, like ceremonies-in fact a key aspect of Australian rock art, and one which is reflected throughout the long history of the practice, is that only a very small section of material culture and the surrounding environment are depicted. For example, despite the fact that lithics were a key item of material culture used in western Arnhem Land for over 50,000 years (see e.g., Clarkson 2007;Clarkson et al 2017) there are very limited examples painted in the rock art (May et al 2017c). The range of animals depicted is also restricted with, for example, the site of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II) in western Arnhem Land being home to 86 depictions of fish but only seven different types and an obvious bias toward catfish (May et al 2017c).…”

“…For example, despite the fact that lithics were a key item of material culture used in western Arnhem Land for over 50,000 years (see e.g., Clarkson 2007;Clarkson et al 2017) there are very limited examples painted in the rock art (May et al 2017c). The range of animals depicted is also restricted with, for example, the site of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II) in western Arnhem Land being home to 86 depictions of fish but only seven different types and an obvious bias toward catfish (May et al 2017c).…”

Symbols of Power: The Firearm Paintings of Madjedbebe (Malakunanja II)

“…From 2011 to 2016 cultural sites were recorded in Jabiluka as a component of the Mirarr Gunwarddebim project-a collaboration between Aboriginal Traditional Owners and the Australian National University. To date, 528 rock art sites have been documented within Jabiluka, with analysis ongoing (e.g., Johnston et al 2017;May et al 2017;Wright et al 2014;Wright et al 2016).…”