Archaeologists in Australia have identified a new Aboriginal Rock Art style in the western territory of the country that dates from the Holocene era from the middle to late, about 7,000 to 5,000 years ago.
In one study Published by the magazine Australian Archeology In February, researchers suggested that Zoomorfe rock paintings in the Kimberley region should be classified as a new type of old Aboriginal art called Linear Naturalistic Figures (LNF). The old works were previously grouped with the irregular infill animal period (IIAP), the oldest known rock art style in Australia dates 17,500 years.
The study was conducted under the leadership of postdoctoral researcher Ana Paula Motta and her colleagues at the University of West -Australia In collaboration with the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation, the authoritative body that manages land in Noordoost -Kimberley on behalf of the Balanggarra -Volk.
The researchers rated 151 Rock Art sites with more than 4,200 motifs, including paintings that have previously been categorized as IIAP. Archaeologists discovered that 98 of these IIAP motives contain characteristics that are not consistent with the conventions of the rock art style, so that they claim that the works must be categorized under LNF.
“The motifs showed a superficial visual resemblance to IIAP, such as often large (> 80 cm) and having a ‘naturalistic’ method of image, especially in the case of macropods,” researchers wrote.
“However, the LNF macropods are painted with a fixed linear overview and partly to no infill,” they continued, adding that most figures were painted in dark or slightly red. IIAP Rock Art, on the other hand, is characterized by Macropod motifs with a solid infill, usually done in mulberry-colored paint.
The researchers also noted that the LNF rock art consisted almost exclusively of animal forms. Most motifs told Macropod -softeners such as kangaroos and wallabies, although they also contain fish, reptiles, birds and other non -created figures.
The works were located at 22 locations that had been transferred to the Rotsen, Ceilings and Richels in the basin of the Drysdale River and King George River catchment. Motta told Hyperallergic That the former location had a “higher concentration” of LNF figures.
“Figures similar to the LNF have also been reported in the direction of the coast of the Kimberley,” Motta added.
The LNF was also chronologically brought between Gwion Gwion Rock Art, which dates more than 10,000 years and has human figures in decorative clothing and Wandjina Rock Art, which can be traced to around 4000 years ago And usually shows spiritual ancestors and animal motifs.
The placement of the LNF style in this timeline, after a few millennia rocks that mainly consists of embellished human figures, indicates a return to animal forms. The researchers have theoretizing that LNF is an expression of kinship and emphasizes the relationship between animals and people.
“Rockkunst is special because it enables us to investigate how people – and the world – observe themselves, while they also investigate social relationships, symbolism and relationship,” Motta said.
“In this sense, rock art is embedded in the social network[s] And can reveal how people related to animals. “
