ROCK ART OF THE GROOTE EYLANDT ARCHIPELAGO

William Westall, Chasm Island 1802 - the 1st recorded Australian rock art.

This page utilises D'Stretch technology to identify signature features in the rock art of the archipelago to establish points of divergence in style that suggest different periods of activity and examples of convergence with such areas as the Wessel Islands. An example is the addition of outer lines of pigment which appear to be added to enclose an image by later aspirants to ownership of the cave sites perhaps as hubs of intersecting lines of cultural activity. On Groote, such activity sometimes employs the black manganese pigment for which the island is known. Many images have been captured by individuals who had access to these sites decades before the current restrictions sadly became necessary. If anyone has interesting images to share or artefacts to anonymously repatriate please get in touch.

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Additional Images

SE Groote Eylandt - ALC image

Rifle at top