The above image represents the Wunguds (Serpents), husband and wife who created Dalgarr…the Drysdale River in the dreamtime. According to Traditional Owner Augustine Unangho ‘when they had finished the Wungud left his wife behind (at the bottom of Ruby falls where she still sleeps) and went to the ocean. Then he went down South, and he met up with a woman and went down the coast on the North side of Port Hedland where he went into the little creek (Walyardda) and ended up in Lake Gregory (where he still sleeps today) and never came back. Photo: Mark Jones
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2025.
I am thrilled to begin the year with you as we embark on groundbreaking new projects and continue our important research across Australia and beyond.
We are starting 2025 with the final two lectures in our popular national series, Two Ways to See: A Rock Art Research Journey. This lecture shares the remarkable outcomes of a long-standing research partnership between university scientists and Traditional Owners on Balanggarra Country in the East Kimberley. The insights revealed in this lecture shed light on Australia’s deep history, stories that every Australian should know.
Join us on March 26 at the University of Tasmania in Hobart and March 27 at the Australian National University in Canberra. Secure your free tickets here. We’d love for you to spread the word to colleagues, friends, and family and look forward to seeing you there!
This national lecture series was possible due to our generous donors and national venue partners. Their support enabled us to offer free lectures across the country, helping us share Australia’s story with as many people as possible. These lectures have provided a mechanism to expand our partnerships and supporters and open doors to new possibilities, projects, and ideas. I would like to thank everyone involved in delivering the lectures and to everyone who attended.
Honouring Susan Bradley
In this edition, we pay tribute to Susan Bradley for her incredible contribution to the protection, preservation, and promotion of Australian rock art. After 30 years of fostering two-way learning and understanding, Susan has retired from the Rock Art Australia Board. Her leadership was instrumental in shaping and sustaining Rock Art Australia, championing research that brings together scientific discovery and Aboriginal traditional knowledge. We are deeply grateful for her dedication and invite you to read more about her legacy here.
Highlights from the SAC Annual Research Workshop
We’re excited to share insights from our Science Advisory Council’s (SAC) Annual Research Workshop, held in Brisbane last year, New Horizons: Collaborative Approaches in Rock Art Research for a Shared Future.
Curated by SAC Chair, Dr. Helen Green, the workshop brought together researchers and community members to present inspiring project updates and visionary aspirations for the future.
A special congratulations to Dr. Green for delivering such a successful program, and my sincere thanks to all the presenters and participants for their contributions.
A highlight of the workshop was a session on Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP), Data Governance, and Sovereignty, presented by Neane Carter and Shevaun Wright from Terri Janke and Company. We were especially pleased to welcome students from Griffith University, the University of Queensland, and the University of Melbourne, who joined us in person and online for this workshop session.
We have dedicated a special page on our website to this workshop, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for researchers, partners, and the broader community. We hope it fosters ongoing conversation, collaboration and inspiration in further rock art research in Australia and beyond. Click here to head straight to the SAC Annual Research Workshop page.
Research & Updates
- An update from Rock Art Australia Minderoo Chair in Archaeological Science, Rachel Popelka-Filcoff, on her latest research projects
- Insights from research projects in the Kimberley and Sydney
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Links to recent publications from RAA-funded research
- And details about upcoming events
Help us uncover our Australian story
At Rock Art Australia, we believe the study of rock art is fundamental to understanding Australia’s story. We therefore believe these significant sites need to be managed and preserved. In support of this, we are focused on developing long-term collaborations and research partnerships with Aboriginal communities, universities, corporate organisaitons, government agencies and generous donors around the country to develop research projects which have social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits.
It is through your support that Rock Art Australia can fund this fundamental research. We invite you to consider making a tax-deductible donation. Your gift directly contributes to major breakthroughs in the field, and we simply cannot do it without you.
I look forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming events around the country. Wishing you all the best for an exciting year ahead!
Best wishes,
Samantha Hamilton. CEO
Honouring Susan Bradley
Susan Bradley (left) with RAA Emeritus Directors Sam Lovell & Christina Kennedy
We pay tribute to Susan Bradley for her incredible contribution to the protection, preservation, and promotion of Australian rock art. After 30 years of fostering two-way learning and understanding, Susan has retired from the Rock Art Australia Board. Her leadership was instrumental in shaping and sustaining Rock Art Australia, championing research that brings together scientific discovery and Aboriginal traditional knowledge. We are deeply grateful for her dedication and invite you to read more about her legacy by clicking the below link.
From the Rock Art Australia Minderoo Chair in Archaeological Science, Rachael Popelka-Filcoff
Ochre Analysis and Exchange of Tiwi Cultural Objects
Patrick Jarmin Puruntatameri and Virgil Kerinaiua with tunga (bark baskets) in the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (Paris)
Patrick Jarmin Puruntatameri, Stéphanie Leclerc Caffarel, Wonu Veys and Mirani Litster examining and discussing Tiwi cultural objects
In September and October 2024, Professor Rachel Popelka-Filcoff (Rock Art Australia Minderoo Chair in Archaeological Science, University of Melbourne) travelled to Paris, Leiden and Vienna to work on multiple current research partnerships.
In Paris, she joined members of the Tiwi Land Council’s Tuwurrampila Cultural Committee – Dion Bruno Apuatimi, Richard Hadley Tungutulum, Virgil Kerinaiua and Jarmin Puruntatameri, who also travelled to Paris. Here they worked with museum curators at the Musée du quai Branly Jacques Chirac discussing Tiwi objects, their cultural importance and traditions, and analytical approaches. The Tiwi Land Council’s Pupuni (good) Ngirramini (story/news) Newsletter wrote aobut the trip, here.
This research is part of the Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP200100559 Before Cook: Contact, Negotiation and the Archaeology of the Tiwi Islands, where she is one of the Chief Investigators. Her role in the project is to analyse the ochre on Tiwi objects in European collections, to add evidence to object biographies and scientific data, and interpretation to understand past cultural exchange of the objects. These results along with Tiwi knowledge, will also bring more depth to the understanding of the ochre pigments, their use, and composition.
Professor Rachel Popelka-Filcoff and PhD student Maddison Crombie provided a project overview at the SAC Annual Research Workshop in Brisbane. Click the link below for more details.
Image on left: Richard Tungutulum with his ancestors’ pukumani poles in the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (Paris)
New Horizons: Collaborative Approaches in Rock Art Research for a Shared Future | Rock Art Australia’s Science Advisory Council Research Workshop, Brisbane 2024
The SAC Annual Research Workshop provides a platform for RAA-funded projects or projects seeking funding to present their work to members of the Rock Art Australia Board, the Science Advisory Council (SAC), project members, and research partners.
It’s always a day filled with engaging discussions and collaboration opportunities. The 19th SAC Annual Research Workshop took place at Brisbane’s Customs House in November 2024 and was curated by SAC Chair, Dr Helen Green. Sessions were chaired by SAC Deputy Chair Chris Clarkson, and SAC Committee Members Cecilia Myers and Richard Fullagar.
The workshop was a space where diverse voices, perspectives, and knowledge systems were welcomed. The workshop presentations were a testament to the power of collaboration between researchers, community members, and partners and to the shared commitment we all bring to advancing the understanding and preservation of rock art and Australia’s deep history.
Research Project Update
The following section provides updates on RAA funded research projects including the VR program in the Kimberley, investigations into the causes of deterioration of rock art imagery in the Kimberley and the database development project in Sydney.
Kimberley Rock Art Virtual Reality VR Program | Louise Shewan, David Barnes, Helen Green, Damien Finch, Pauline Heaney, Ian Waina, Cecilia Myers
Students at Kalumburu Remote Community School trying out the VR headsets.
The team is in the planning stages for intended travel to Western Australia to commence the first phase of the project. This travel will involve a visit to Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) to discuss the project and educational materials, and return to the Kalumburu Remote Community School (KRCS) with proposed fieldwork. Kalumburu is located on land of the Kwini people in north-western Western Australia.
BAC meeting: Louise Shewan and David Barnes will travel to meet with Directors of the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) to formalise agreements following in a in-principle agreement.
KRCS (School) visit: Since the award of the RAA Strategic Grant the research team has received additional funding for the purchase of VR headsets for the school. The headsets will be programmed for use during the team’s visit during which time they will conduct several student classes and teaching training sessions. The headsets will remain at the school and can be updated remotely with new content.
Fieldwork: Co-designed fieldwork will be planned to expand the library of 3D art models and to refine digital processing. Data capture will be undertaken at 3-4 Drysdale River sites previously investigated by the Rock Art Dating team. During this phase, photographic protocols will be refined and streamlined.
Shadows of Time: Understanding Fading Kimberley Art | Faris Ruzain, Helen Green, Rachel Popelka-Filcoff, Ian Waina
Cut sandstone blocks with painted model ochre
Commercial model ochre was used in experiments to investigate the effects of varying concentrations of oxalic acid on ochre integrity. Oxalic acid secreted by microorganisms are likely a factor in fading Kimberley art. The effect of oxalic acid on model ochre was analysed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and colorimetric methods which measure how much iron (Fe) is retained in the ochre, and to a certain degree if the minerals within the ochres changed.
Yellow ochre (Nicosia yellow ochre) was found to be the most susceptible to oxalic acid dissolution compared to red (OCH421) and brown (Armenian hematite) ochres. Using the strongest tested oxalic acid concentration (matching fungi levels), the Fe content in the yellow ochre dropped by an average of 32%, compared to brown ochre (12% drop) and red ochre (negligible change) according to XRF and colorimetric results, with the average decrease being statistically significant. The higher content of relatively water-soluble goethite in the yellow ochre may be the cause. However, with the red and brown ochres, no significant change in Fe content was observed across the range of oxalic acid solutions tested on the ochres painted on sandstone. The more hydrophobic and acid-resistant nature of hematite, which is more predominant in the red and brown ochres, may be the reason as to the miniscule change in Fe content.
Future work is required to further test the effects of oxalic acid on ochres. The use of sandstone blocks in this study incorporated complex matrix effects that may have produced less-than optimal X-ray readings. Therefore, it is recommended that the ochres be studied on simpler substrates such as glass slides that offer less interference. The use of glass slides would also allow the use of techniques previously made impossible due to the dimensions of the sandstone blocks. For example, X-ray diffraction (XRD) could be used as a complementary X-ray method that would provide more informed results. XRD would be able to detect mineral changes in the ochres after oxalic acid treatment better than colorimetric methods. With XRD, the research team will be able to track the changes of Fe minerals as they react with oxalic acid to form Fe-oxalate ions.
Baranyi Yagu Barrabugu – Yesterday Today Tomorrow a Database for the Times | Phil Hunt, Kyle Nettleton, Susan Whitby – Aboriginal Heritage Office
Red hand stencils in a shelter beneath a backyard pool, northern Sydney
Graffiti at an uncommon vertical rock engraving site, northern Sydney
The Aboriginal Heritage Office (AHO) is a partnership of six Councils in Sydney (Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Strathfield and Willoughby Councils) that helps monitor and protect Aboriginal sites in their areas. There are around 1000 registered sites, including rock art and rock engraving sites. Many sites have been monitored for over 20 years. There is a wealth of valuable information that needs to be reorganised to improve conservation, preservation and planning, including tens of thousands of photographs.
Thanks to RAA, the AHO is developing a new database. The information will be used by the AHO for its core business activities: conservation, planning and education. Site information will then be more utilised by Aboriginal community, Council staff, volunteers and researchers.
New Publications
Cloggs Cave pollen sequences, GunaiKurnai Country East Gippsland (SE Australia): 25,000 years of cultural plant use and changing environments | Elle Grono, Bruno David, Janelle Stevenson, Joanna Fresløv, Russell Mullett, Benedict Keaney, Catriona Graham, Jeremy Ash, GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Matthew C. McDowell, Fiona Petchey, Jean-Jacques Delannoy, Ashleigh J. Rogers, David M. Kennedy
Image taken from the paper, with permission from the authors. Commonly occurring pollen and spore types in the Cloggs Cave samples.
Published by Frontiers as open source in December 2024, this is the first paper of the Australian Research Council linkage project, also supported by Rock Art Australia, Before and After the Last Ice Age: GunaiKurnai archaeology along the Snowy in Gippsland, Victoria.
A record of monsoon rainforest variability from the Kimberley region in northwestern Australia | Rachel C. Rudd, Teresa Dixon, John Nikolaus Callow, Patricia S. Gadd, Sabika Maizma, Geraldine Jacobsen, Patrick Moss, Hamish McGowan
Image taken from the paper, with permission, shows Summer (DJF) average rainfall (1991–2020) across Australia, with data from The Bureau of Meteorology (2024).
The team of scientists working on Rock Art Australia funded research to Unlocking Environmental Archives in the Kimberley has published A record of monsoon rainforest variability from the Kimberley region in northwest Australia, in the Journal of Quaternary Science – WILEY Online Library.
Linear Naturalistic Figures: a new Mid-to-Late Holocene Aboriginal rock art style from the northeast Kimberley, Australia | Ana Paula Motta, Sven Ouzman, Peter Veth, and Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation
Digital sketch of LNF motif showing diagnostic attributes
This Open Access article, part of the greater Kimberley Visions Project, argues for the inclusion of a Mid-to-Late Holocene style to Kimberley’s rock art sequence, the Linear Naturalistic Figures. The style is characterised by large naturalistic animal figures with a continuous outline. We argue that this renewed emphasis on animal depictions – following several millennia of highly decorated human figures – is most adequately understood as an expression of kinship, where animals and humans share a common origin.
Click on the link below for all Rock Art Australia funded Research Publications.
Rock Art Research Funding
At Rock Art Australia, we bring scientific research and Aboriginal cultural knowledge together to study rock art provinces of Australia. We study them to understand the history of Aboriginal Australia and its significance in the global narrative of human origins and to ensure its protection.
We initiate and support integrated, multi-disciplinary scientific research which is co-developed with Aboriginal communities to ensure it meets the needs for the Aboriginal people of the region. We actively foster engagement with Country and culture.
To learn more about Rock Art Australia’s research priorities and how to apply for RAA research funding, please visit our website by clicking the link below.
For general enquiries please contact: grants@rockartaustralia.org.au
Events
The above image is of a rock art panel that is located in the Dalgarr (Drysdale River) region, home of the Kwini/Balangarra people of the North Kimberley. This particular panel was a focus for Rock Art Australia’s groundbreaking Rock Art Dating Project because it had many layers/epochs of art represented ranging from the most ancient art – the petit cupules – right through to the most recent (Wandjina) art. The main (kangaroo) figure in the picture is Walimba who represents an important men’s Lore story that spread from Kwini Country in the Kimberley all the way to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in the Gibson Desert.
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼: Mark Jones.
National Lecture Series
March sees our popular Two Ways to See national lecture series come to an exciting end with two final lectures taking place in Hobart and Canberra.
Our mission has been to share this knowledge with audiences around the country so that as Australians we understand our story and develop pride for the incredible cultural heritage we need to protect and preserve for future generations. We extend our gratitude to the University of Tasmania and the Australian National University for their generous partnership in hosting the lectures.
Film Screening | Two Ways: The Kimberley Rock Art Legacy
On the 12 February 2025 RAA CEO Samantha Hamilton and Dr Damien Finch from the University of Melbourne presented the Two ways: The Kimberley rock art legacy documentary to Year 7 and 8 students from the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) at Trinity Grammar school in Melbourne. The film was received with enthusiasm and engagement, and the students’ had great feedback and ideas about how the film can be shared with more people across Australia.
Film Screenings around Australia in 2025
Stay tuned through our social media platforms and through our website for dates and locations around Australia for the screening of Two ways: The Kimberley rock art legacy documentary in 2025.
Set in the rock art galleries of the Kimberley and guided by Elder Augustine “Boornoornoor” Unangho, ‘Two Ways’ highlights the collaboration between scientists and one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures, the Balanggarra people.
The documentary showcases a blend of science and traditional wisdom, revealing the enduring narratives of art, climate change and human resilience spanning at least 50,000 years.
Help us uncover our Australian story
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