Journal article
Investigating the Anthropic Construction of Rock Art Sites Through Archaeomorphology: the Case of Borologa, Kimberley, Australia
Jean-Jacques Delannoy, Bruno David, Kim Genuite, Robert Gunn, Damien Finch, Sven Ouzman, Helen Green, Peter Veth, Sam Harper, Robert J Skelly
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY | SPRINGER | Published : 2020
Abstract
Archaeologists usually see, and understand, rock shelters as taphonomically active, but pre-existing, physical structures onto which people undertake a variety of actions including rock art. Our aim in this paper is not only to document the changes undergone by rock shelters but also to identify traces of anthropic actions that have intentionally led to these changes. Recent research in northern Australia provides empirical evidence that for thousands of years, Aboriginal peoples altered the physical shape of rock shelters by removing masses of rock to create alcoves, restructure internal spaces and create stone-worked furniture. Through archaeomorphological research, this paper presents evi..
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Awarded by Australian Research Council's "Kimberley Visions: Rock Art Style Provinces in Northern Australia" project
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank Augustine Unghango, Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation members and Kwini Traditional Owners for the permission and partnership to work on their lands. This paper was carried out as part of the Australian Research Council's "Kimberley Visions: Rock Art Style Provinces in Northern Australia" project (LP150100490). We thank Gael Cazes, Andy Gleadow, Pauline Heaney, Cecilia Myers, Maria Myers, Susan Bradley and the staff at Theda and Doongan Stations; Kimberley Foundation Australia, Dunkeld Pastoral Pty Ltd.; and the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Thanks to EDYTEM and the Universite Savoie Mont Blanc, the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre at Monash University and Archaeology at the University of Western Australia. Thank you also to the Borologa excavation and rock art recording teams: Isaac Barney, Frank Boulden, Leigh Douglas, Adrian French, Paul Hartley, Brigid Hill, Lucas Karadada, Madeleine Kelly, Lorraine Lee, Robin Maher, William Maraltidj, Michael Morlumbin, Ken Mulvaney, Nick Sundblom, Patrick Tataya, Gareth Unghango, Jeremy Unghango, Scott Unghango, Ian Waina, Rowan Waina and Uriah Waina. This work was conducted under a research agreement with the Kimberley Land Council and Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation. The Western Australian Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (formerly Aboriginal Affairs) provided a s16 permit.