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Kimberley's hidden world of Indigenous rock art revealed by researchers Kimberley's hidden world of Indigenous rock art revealed by researchers
(35 minutes later)
A world-first survey of more than 250 rock art sites in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has documented more than 30,000 images and will help researchers answer some of the biggest questions about human migration.A world-first survey of more than 250 rock art sites in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has documented more than 30,000 images and will help researchers answer some of the biggest questions about human migration.
The survey began in July and is being run by the University of Western Australia archeology professor Peter Veth, in conjunction with traditional owners the Balanggarra people and the Balanggarra Indigenous rangers.The survey began in July and is being run by the University of Western Australia archeology professor Peter Veth, in conjunction with traditional owners the Balanggarra people and the Balanggarra Indigenous rangers.
Over a three-month period the research team recorded the sites in the remote east Kimberley, between the town of Wyndham, more than 1,000km east of Broome and 3,400km north of Perth, and the Northern Territory border.Over a three-month period the research team recorded the sites in the remote east Kimberley, between the town of Wyndham, more than 1,000km east of Broome and 3,400km north of Perth, and the Northern Territory border.
The sites feature a number of the haunting, elongated human forms known as Gwion figures.The sites feature a number of the haunting, elongated human forms known as Gwion figures.
“Most have not been recorded in any meaningful way before – although some important sites, particularly towards the west of the study area, were recorded as early as the 1980s by the first generation of rock art recorders,” Veth told Guardian Australia.“Most have not been recorded in any meaningful way before – although some important sites, particularly towards the west of the study area, were recorded as early as the 1980s by the first generation of rock art recorders,” Veth told Guardian Australia.
Much of it is very remote. The first time the Balanggarra elder Ambrose Charlameri saw the figures he was 55-years-old. Much of it is very remote. Balanggarra elder Ambrose Charlameri did not see the figures until he was 55.
Now 75, he told Guardian Australia that he had been born in the remote area where the art was found but moved to the mission in Kalumburu on the Gibb river at the age of six, after his mother died. Now 75, he told Guardian Australia he had been born in the remote area where the art was found but moved to the mission in Kalumburu on the Gibb river at the age of six, after his mother died.
“Rock art is part of the story and part of history for us ... it was put there a long time ago,” Charlameri said. “It came to be very important when we were old enough to understand what it was for.“Rock art is part of the story and part of history for us ... it was put there a long time ago,” Charlameri said. “It came to be very important when we were old enough to understand what it was for.
“When I come to it I just know ... that maybe my ancestors had painted that before, long ago.”“When I come to it I just know ... that maybe my ancestors had painted that before, long ago.”
Charlameri was one of the elders who went to the sites with Veth’s team, travelling by air over the rough country. His aim is to protect the art for his people.Charlameri was one of the elders who went to the sites with Veth’s team, travelling by air over the rough country. His aim is to protect the art for his people.
“Some of the places they over-painted,” he said, speaking of damaged rock art in areas of the West Kimberley. “We don’t like anyone to touch it. It’s been there for a long time.”“Some of the places they over-painted,” he said, speaking of damaged rock art in areas of the West Kimberley. “We don’t like anyone to touch it. It’s been there for a long time.”
Veth said comparing the ages of various rock art sites, and the occupation history of associated camp sites, would show the history and shared cultures of Indigenous people in the area and how the Top End formed into the distinct regional groups of the Kimberley, Victoria River District and Arnhem Land.Veth said comparing the ages of various rock art sites, and the occupation history of associated camp sites, would show the history and shared cultures of Indigenous people in the area and how the Top End formed into the distinct regional groups of the Kimberley, Victoria River District and Arnhem Land.
“It is about the genesis of regional identity,” he said.“It is about the genesis of regional identity,” he said.
The survey project has been funded for five years and is being conducted alongside a rock art dating project.The survey project has been funded for five years and is being conducted alongside a rock art dating project.
It’s focused on the north-east corner of the region but with the aim of expanding into the rest of the Kimberley with the cooperation of different groups of traditional owners, in a process that could take decades.It’s focused on the north-east corner of the region but with the aim of expanding into the rest of the Kimberley with the cooperation of different groups of traditional owners, in a process that could take decades.
Both the rock art survey and the dating project are funded by the Kimberley Foundation Australia and the Australian Research Council.Both the rock art survey and the dating project are funded by the Kimberley Foundation Australia and the Australian Research Council.
The Kimberley Foundation’s chief executive, Cas Bennetto, said the projects were part of a broader aim to gain a deep understanding of the history of human occupation across north-west Australia using the rock art as a guide.The Kimberley Foundation’s chief executive, Cas Bennetto, said the projects were part of a broader aim to gain a deep understanding of the history of human occupation across north-west Australia using the rock art as a guide.
“It contains evidence of Australia’s earliest settlement and it’s a remarkable and unequalled historical resource for the world,” Bennotto said. “Rock art is central to answering some of the big questions about human migration.”“It contains evidence of Australia’s earliest settlement and it’s a remarkable and unequalled historical resource for the world,” Bennotto said. “Rock art is central to answering some of the big questions about human migration.”
That evidence, she said, lay both in the Indigenous knowledge systems represented in the art and in the archeological data it provided. Indigenous involvement of the process and cultural knowledge was crucial, she said. That evidence, she said, lay both in the Indigenous knowledge systems represented in the art and in the archaeological data it provided. Indigenous involvement of the process and cultural knowledge was crucial, she said.
“It is perhaps our most significant Indigenous cultural asset and then as a body of art it is unique,” she said. “Ot is perhaps the largest figurative body of art to survive anywhere in the world. “It is perhaps our most significant Indigenous cultural asset and then as a body of art it is unique,” she said. “It is perhaps the largest figurative body of art to survive anywhere in the world.
“Our aim is to build up a body of understanding ... so that we can understand the story of Australia’s earliest settlement history. And we think that should be known.”“Our aim is to build up a body of understanding ... so that we can understand the story of Australia’s earliest settlement history. And we think that should be known.”