Article2012

Dating The Present At Nawarla Gabarnmang: Time and function in the art of a major Jawoyn rock art and occupation site in western Arnhem Land

Robert Gunn · R.L. Whear · Leigh Douglas

14 citations0/0 files storedAustralian Archaeology

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Archaeology and Rock Art Studies Archaeology and ancient environmental studies Australian Indigenous Culture and History

Abstract

Nawarla Gabarnmang is a major rock art and occupation rockshelter in the Jawoyn lands of western Arnhem Land. On the basis of (1) dating of beeswax underlying pigment art, (2) the presence of a probable contact motif, and (3) traditional owner comments, it appears that the most clearly visible art in the rockshelter was produced within an archaeologically narrow window of time in the past 600 years, with the most recent art production occurring between AD 1845 and 1940. Studies of motif superimpositioning also suggest that at least three functionally distinct phases have occurred in the recent period rock art. Spatial mapping of the major art styles also indicates that the latest styles are restricted to the central and largest panels, affording them visual prominence with the highest dramatic impact.

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References

2001Landscapes, Rock-Art and the Dreaming: An Archaeology of Preunderstanding 1993Journey in time : the world's longest continuing art tradition : the 50,000 year story of the Australian aboriginal rock art of Arnhem land 1994Australia's Ancient Warriors: Changing Depictions of Fighting in the Rock Art of Arnhem Land, N.T.2010Painting History: Indigenous Observations and Depictions of the ‘Other’ in Northwestern Arnhem Land, Australia 1994Of Lightning Brothers and White Cockatoos: dating the antiquity of signifying systems in the Northern Territory, Australia 1993Regionalism in the recent rock art of western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory 2010AMS RADIOCARBON AGES FOR BEESWAX AND CHARCOAL PIGMENTS IN NORTH KIMBERLEY ROCK ART 2010A METHOD TO VISUALLY RATIONALISE SUPERIMPOSED PIGMENT MOTIFS

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2017People and fish: Late Holocene rock art at Wulk Lagoon, Arnhem Land 2021History Disappearing: The Rapid Loss of Australian Contact Period Rock Art 2017Postcards from the outside: European-contact rock art imagery and occupation on the southern Arnhem Land plateau, Jawoyn lands 2017Dating painted Panel E1 at Nawarla Gabarnmang, central-western Arnhem Land plateau

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