Aboriginal Art in West Australia&#39;s Murchison region

DianneN

@DianneN (247186)

• United States

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

It's certainly interesting to see such sites and to ponder on what they painted.

2 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (471253)

• Switzerland

17 Oct 20

Those rocks are of an incredible mix of colours, beautiful. I am always fascinated by primitive art.

4 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (471253)

• Switzerland

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv I have seen similar colours in Arizona, in the area around the city of Sedona.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

I loved some of the rock formations that we saw up there. The colours were spectacular in some areas.

2 people like this

rsa101

@rsa101 (38148)

• Philippines

17 Oct 20

Nice pictures you took there. l recall having same pictures of that hand but not in Australia but somewhere in Europe.

3 people like this

topffer

@topffer (42156)

• France

17 Oct 20

Yes, about 400 negative hands were found in caves in France and Spain. The ones in this photo are in the cave del castillo in Spain.

5 people like this

rsa101

@rsa101 (38148)

• Philippines

17 Oct 20

@topffer Oh yeah l saw that in the books a long time ago. Amazing that the idea was also done several thousand kilometers away and is separated bu sea but idea was similar.

4 people like this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

17 Oct 20

@topffer most fascinatin', so glad ya shared this. i reckon now i've gotta add this to my e'er growin' list 'f thingies to investigate, lol.

3 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

17 Oct 20

These all makes one feel as if he or she has been transported to another age altogether. The ancient folks used to do so much on the caves and on the rocks. These things are a big heritage to all of us.

3 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv We have so many Ancient and Medieval structures in India as well. So much to explore. And then there are also places in Egypt, Inca civilization in South America and other places as well.

1 person likes this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

19 Oct 20

@JudyEv Still the drawings you have shown above hold a lot of history.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

There are so many wonderful things to see in the world. We can still learn a lot from those who went before us.

1 person likes this

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (12969)

• Ireland

17 Oct 20

@judyev There are waterfalls in Uganda called after Mr Murchison. I wonder if there’s any colonial connection?

3 people like this

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (12969)

• Ireland

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv If Impey (what an awful time he must have had at school!!!) were my middle name my initials would be FIB. When my wife was named her initials were SIN so her father slipped in a Louise for good measure and she became SILN. Thanks for the Murchison research - he got about.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

@xFiacre Well, I'm not sure Murchison did. He didn't get to Australia or Uganda as far as I could make out. Just happened to be an influential man.

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

It is with great satisfaction that I can say that both the Murchison Falls and Murchison River/region have a connection to the Scottish geologist, Sir Roderick Impey Murchison. (aren't you glad your middle name isn't Impey? - presuming it isn't) Samuel and Florence Baker were the first Europeans to see the falls and named them after Roderick Murchison, who was the President of the Royal Geographical Society. The Murchison River was named by the explorer George Grey and honours the same gentleman, who was his patron. Murchison's advocacy had been essential in securing official support for Grey's Western Australian expeditions. Now we've both learnt something.

2 people like this

Scott Andersen

@DocAndersen (54402)

• United States

17 Oct 20

artists have always existed, it is in their art that the world is a better place!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

That's very true. We need food for our bellies but also for our souls.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

@DocAndersen Yes, of course, food and shelter have to come first.

1 person likes this

Scott Andersen

@DocAndersen (54402)

• United States

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv that is true - but, sadly many can't take care of the first.

1 person likes this

Torunn

@Torunn (8607)

• Norway

17 Oct 20

The bands of different coloured rock are impressive! No wonder they chose that place to draw.

2 people like this

Torunn

@Torunn (8607)

• Norway

19 Oct 20

@JudyEv Different metals in the ground I suppose? It would also make it easier to find the right stuff to make your own colours.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

The geological features in that area are quite something.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Oct 20

@Torunn There is an ochre pit not too far away where the aborigines would collect the different coloured ochres used in their rituals but it's not open to the public.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16755)

• China

17 Oct 20

The site of gallery of aboriginal art is worth visiting.Don't know which period of history those works can be traced back to.

3 people like this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16755)

• China

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv Wow! 10,000 years old !They are prehistoric drawings.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

@changjiangzhibin89 Yes, they are indeed.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

Experts estimate that the gallery is 10,000 years old although, of course, the painting of the ship would be much more recent.

1 person likes this

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112770)

• El Paso, Texas

17 Oct 20

Wow, how kool. Lucky for Australia that kids haven't defaced that ancient art like they've done here.

3 people like this

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112770)

• El Paso, Texas

18 Oct 20

Thats true but it's still a shame @JudyEv

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

Don't worry. Anything that is near civilisation gets defaced and even stuff miles from anywhere sometimes.

1 person likes this

Four Walls

@FourWalls (67703)

• United States

17 Oct 20

Do the Aboriginal peoples have interpretive centers discussing the artwork?

3 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv Yes including the Aborigines is very vital, especially for inclusiveness for their future generations.

2 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

19 Oct 20

@JudyEv Yes the historical wrongs should not be repeated.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

Yes and there are more and more of these interpretive centres being established. The aborigines are now being included in discussions, management, etc much more than they once were - which is a good thing.

2 people like this

Jeff Moffitt

@moffittjc (121540)

• Gainesville, Florida

17 Oct 20

Thanks for sharing Judy. I enjoy reading your posts about the different things you come across in your area. Helps me learn more about Australia. Are there still aboriginal people living in the area?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

Yes, there are a lot of aborigines in the area.Between Tom Price and Carnarvon we passed several aboriginal communities. They were off the road. I'm glad you're enjoying the posts.

2 people like this

Jeff Moffitt

@moffittjc (121540)

• Gainesville, Florida

24 Oct 20

@JudyEv Do the Australians get along well with the aborigines?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Oct 20

@moffittjc Probably mostly about as well as Americans do with Afro-Americans. Many have assimilated very well into Western life but those in the outback are more likely to stick to their traditional ways. In such places, if the aborigines are near a town, drunkenness ofter becomes a huge problem.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

17 Oct 20

It would be fascinating to see those drawings first-hand. Thank you for the pictures.

3 people like this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv Yes, I'm sure it was.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

You're welcome. They are such a long way from anywhere but the place was obviously important once.

1 person likes this

Shiva

@Shiva49 (26658)

• Singapore

18 Oct 20

Interesting. I am curious about some carvings and paintings that show aliens. I think there should be some reality behind such but we are not able to understand them more as detail are sketchy without a write-up that we can decipher

2 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv May be an ancient advanced civilization, may be some aliens- well it is difficult to interpret and decipher.

2 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

19 Oct 20

@JudyEv Yes there could be various possibilities.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

That's true. There are several theories about the boat but nothing has been proven - and I doubt it ever will.

2 people like this

Piyush bhatia

@piyushbhatia1 (11695)

• India

17 Oct 20

Australia would not have been a dry land in the past

3 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

18 Oct 20

@piyushbhatia1 Yes many places were separated over Millions of years. Initially it was one continent : Panagea.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

That's true. Much of the area around Karijini was under water for many, many years.

1 person likes this

Piyush bhatia

@piyushbhatia1 (11695)

• India

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv Yes. It is still part of Indian Australian tectonic plate

2 people like this

Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum

snowy

@snowy22315 (180361)

• United States

18 Oct 20

That should be interesting. There is one in Charlottesville too, which is the only one of it's type in the US. Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum - Charlottesville

www.visitcharlottesville.org

The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia is the only museum in the United States dedicated to the exhibition and study of Indigenous Australian art. We are currently open by reservation only due to COVID19. Admission is free a

1 person likes this

snowy

@snowy22315 (180361)

• United States

20 Oct 20

@JudyEv I haven't been there, but I have seen the signs. I might check it out sometime when Covid is over.

snowy

@snowy22315 (180361)

• United States

20 Oct 20

@JudyEv This old world has a lot of interesting things to offer.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Oct 20

I find that just totally amazing. I don't think anywhere in Australia has anything like that. I am honestly astounded.

2 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

18 Oct 20

The ship could mean some ancient well developed civilization with ships, but which went into decay after some events like floods, droughts, weather changes or invasions. Something similar to Harappa-Mohanjedaro civilization that was in areas in India and Pakistan as of now.

1 person likes this

@ptrikha_2 (46909)

• India

20 Oct 20

@JudyEv Yes that could also have happened.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Oct 20

That's a possibility I guess. There is also talk that aborigines befriended and helped some who were shipwrecked.

1 person likes this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

17 Oct 20

oh my! what grand beauty 'n so many stories told 'n those. i 'magine such's most breathtakin' to see'n person. quite stunnin' jest from photos. i gotta ask though, did'ja feel a lil diff'rent bein' there? cultural sites usually 've an aura 'bout 'em. the sailin' ship would be a tad perplexin', but then 'gain, didn't the peoples used to travel great distances? with modern technology, i'm thinkin' they ought'a be able to 'ndercover the earlier drawings. if'n so more queries to be'd, eh? what messages'd been left o'er a great 'xpanse 'f time. the script sounds very intriguin'. thanks so much fer sharin' yer journeys with the gorgeous pics. safe travels 'n big hugs ~

2 people like this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

18 Oct 20

@JudyEv aw, yer welcome. i bet there'd be many, 've they dated such? i hear they've fancy gadgets that can help determine such. 'f course, that could open e'en more queries :) 'tis theories'n the aura felt when visitin' such. some say y'ave got'ta 've a 'pure heart', others say if'n there's negative folks 're too much "clutter", 'tis greatly impeded. nomadic fer survival, followin' critters fer food 'n waters.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339433)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Oct 20

Thanks for the kind words. There are interesting theories about the ship in particular and you're quite right in that the aborigines were nomadic and did travel long distances from time to time.'Aura' is actually a good description for some of these places. I only notice it though if there are very few people around.

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (218463)

• Walnut Creek, California

18 Oct 20

I enjoy looking at cave paintings here in the US as well. I wish I knew more about what the symbols meant. I've seen some similarities across tribes and regions.

2 people like this