Aboriginal Rock Art, Amiens
We would like to thank the Kambuwal people for allowing us to use these images.
Photograph by Sandra McEwan.
The Aboriginal rock art in this photograph was found at Amiens, north-west of Stanthorpe. It is faded, showing red-ochre toned marks and lines on the granite rock surface. It has been there for an undetermined time and has not been dated. It measures approximately 50cm high and 150cm wide.
The earliest rock art in Australia is over 17 000 years old, much of it found in the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
This important art form was probably used as a chronical to convey knowledge of the land, events and beliefs of Aboriginal people. Rock art can be created in many ways such as painting, drawing, stencils or engraving.
The traditional inhabitants of the Granite Belt region are the Kambuwal people.
“The Kambuwal, Jukambal, Kwiambal, Ngarabal, Bundjalung and Gidabal people are all known to have been in the area. They probably came together for trade, gift exchanges, marriages and ceremonial gatherings such as feasts and corroborees. Bora Rings and other ceremonial sites have been found in Ballandean, Girraween (Bald Rock Creek valley) and Maryland.” (Rymich.com)
We pay our respects to all the traditional custodians of the land, Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands Elders of other communities who may live here.
First two photographs by Sandra McEwan. The second two photographs courtesy of the Harslett family were taken in 2009 and show the scale of the artworks next to Jean Harslett.
