Arnhem Land Rock Paintings

P. Taçon

Chris Chippindale and Meredith Wilson recording rock-paintings of Rainbow Serpents and Dynamic figures in Arnhem Land.

Paintings by Najombolmi, one of the last major rock-painters of western Arnhem Land, such as these from Nourlangie, Kakadu National Park, are one of many focal points of our Arnhem Land rock-art study.

Analysis of data collected between 1990 - 1995 with Christopher Chippindale (Cambridge University) continues, with results published regularly.

In 2000, a new interpretation of the region's oldest rock paintings featuring human figures was published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal.In 2001, a paper was published on the worldwide incidence of composite creatures, including animal-headed beings, with a focus on those found in old Arnhem Land rock-art. These are the latest of a series of focused works that will eventually allow comparison to other art forms in northern Australia and contribute to a new regional prehistory, to be published as a monograph in the near future. Previous publications have focused on the origins of Rainbow Serpent depictions and the world's earliest images of warfare, among other things.

Arnhem Land Rock Paintings

P. Taçon

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