Rock art

In Australia there are traditions of painting and engraving on rock that stretch back thousands of years. It is thought that the oldest surviving examples so far found are the rock engravings in the Olary region of South Australia which may be over 30 000 years old.

Some Aboriginal engravings and paintings are in fact so old that we cannot know who made them, why they were made, or what their real meaning might be. We can only guess, based on our knowledge of Aboriginal life past and present, the stories and legends of Aboriginal people and, maybe, what the pictures look like to present-day eyes. Other rock paintings, however, are relatively recent and are part of living tradition. They are still very important to people who know and respect their meanings. A few are even repainted by men and women who have the traditional right to do so. In places such as Arnhem Land, NT, and Central Australia the symbols and motifs painted on rock also appear in other forms of expression such as painting on bark or canvas, reflecting a continuing tradition of great vigour. Aboriginal people have occupied Australia for many thousands of years - at least 50 000 according to the latest estimates. Although all Aboriginal people shared a similar way of life and similar religious beliefs, they belonged to separate groups that had their own languages, country, legends and ceremonies. They lived in different environments and had different histories. So it is not surprising that there is a wide variety of styles and subject matter in the engravings and paintings found throughout the continent.