Rock Art of Groote Eylandt 2

Many thanks to Keith who collected these images over many years on the island. The Macassan influence dominates much of the coastal and northern areas of Groote and differs markedly from that found inland.

The funeral dance of the standing paddlers echoes the Chasm Island image copied by Westall in 1802.

Westall mistook the image at left for an animal. The sword is a woomera carried by senior men at certain times and during some ceremonies. This dance of 4 parallel lines of paddlers is performed during funerary rites by several clan groups, notably the Warramiri. The suggestion of clothing is curious.