Rare encounter in Arnhem Land

Flinders University rock art archaeologist Dr Daryl Wesley’s ARC-funded study on remote islands in north-east Arnhem Land is part of the new series of popular documentary series, Coast Australia, hosted by Neil Oliver.

As part of senior research fellow Dr Wesley’s study of the earliest encounters between Southeast Asia, Europeans and Yolngu (Yolŋu) Traditional Owners in the islands and other areas of north-eastern Arnhem Land,  the filming took place in the Marthakal Indigenous Protected Area in 2019.

Renowned Australian environmentalist and palaeontologist Professor Tim Flannery, on location for the interview, takes a look at Dr Wesley and colleagues’ analysis of how archaeologists can use rock art to study the many layers of Yolgnu culture and history.

Coast Australia, Series 4, commences on Foxtel History Channel at 7:30pm on Friday 11 February, and available on demand. The Marthakal research features in episode 4.

Enhanced rock art imagery from Marchinbar Island using DStretch of Rock Art of Marchinbar Island (Photo courtesy Daryl Wesley and Jarrad Kowlessar)

The research was funded by Dr Wesley’s ARC DECRA (DE170101447) ‘People, Animals, and Ochre: Rock art as a proxy for environmental change’ and a Flinders University Innovation Partnership Seed Grant entitled Marthakal Indigenous Protected Area Cultural Heritage and Rock Art Study (held by Dr Wesley and Associate Professor Wendy van Duivenvoorde).

The project was conducted in partnership with the Yolngu people and Gumurr Marthakal Rangers.

Flinders University PhD candidate Jarrad Kowlessar is also working on a series of publications flowing from this project and subsequent research in Arnhem Land.

Dr Wesley says this long-running study will seek to document more of the rich cultural heritage and history of the region, including finding evidence from the Pleistocene past and Pleistocene-Holocene transition on the remnants of the ‘famous’ land bridge from Asia to Australia.

“It is a very rich but poorly documented rock art province,” he says. “It’s also providing an opportunity for ongoing partnership with the Gumurr Marthakal Rangers, traditional owners and Flinders University for research, cultural heritage conservation, education and engagement with Yolŋu.”

 

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