How Old Is Aboriginal Rock Art

The sites can be reached via several walks.

How old is aboriginal rock art. The earliest examples to have been accurately dated go back as far as 28000 years. The Northern Territory is laden with Aboriginal rock art from Central Australia to the Top End ancient art sites abound. Already researchers have discovered that contrary to previous belief that the rock art was not 10 000 years old Aboriginal art in the Kimberley dates back more than 16 000 years making it the oldest rock art in the world.

Dated at 28000 years it is one of the oldest known pieces of rock art on Earth with a confirmed date. No Victorian rock art has been firmly dated. Other aboriginal rock painting from the Pre-Estuarine period is believed to be older from about 30000 BCE but this has not been scientifically confirmed.

In Australia dating has been relatively limited but dates of between 13000 to 15000 years old have been recorded in Queensland and up to 28000 years in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. There are several collections of rock art in Quinkan Country that are at least 15000 years old including paintings of wildlife spirits and people. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the finger markings belong to a tradition that began during the last Ice Age more than 10000 years ago.

A group of Australian researchers have been working with Aboriginal Traditional Owners in Kandiwal and Kalumburu in the northwest Kimberley WA to analyse art in over 200 sites. Australian Aboriginal rock art is world famous. Rock art in the Kimberley was thought to be no older than about 10000 years.

An Aboriginal work created 28000 years ago in an outback cave. Ochres were used to paint on rocks. While most rock art is in remote regions it is well worth seeking out.

The oldest firmly dated evidence of rock art painting in Australia is a charcoal drawing on a small rock fragment found during the excavation of the Narwala Gabarnmang rock shelter in south-western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. How old is Aboriginal rock art. Aboriginal culture dates back as far as between 60000 to 80000 years.