The Landscape of Blue Mountains Rock-art

P. Taçon

In 2001 internal Museum funding in the form of a Research Centre Grant was received to develop a new major research project in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Engraved emu tracks cover the shelter wall at one of the oldest sites in the Blue Mountains region.

This project aims to comprehensively study Blue Mountains region rock-art, especially within the little known Wollemi area. It will establish more accurate relative and absolute chronologies, allowing us to better understand the relationship between Blue Mountains region rock-art and that of other parts of New South Wales. It will also explore relationships to landscape, ecology and culture change in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area over the past few thousand years. Besides scientific significance, the results will have social significance for Aboriginal stakeholders and be of great value to National Parks and Wildlife Service interpretation officers, tourists and the tourist industry more generally. Other significant aspects of the project include the development of a unique digital recording format and a comprehensive GIS study, both with worldwide applications. Wayne Brennan and myself are the Principal Investigators but Wuradjeri elder Shaun Hooper is a major partner.

The Landscape of Blue Mountains Rock-art

P. Taçon

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