A fragment of rock art with a charcoal streak upon it dating back 28,000 years.
Professor Bryce Barker excavating at Gabarnmang.
Project Coordinator and Archaeology Field Director, Monash University’s Dr Bruno David with Jawoyn traditional owner Margaret Katherine.
SIX years after the discovery of an ancient rock art site in the Katherine region, a team of researchers have found evidence the art dates back to 36,000 years ago - which makes it the oldest site of its kind in Australia.
In 2006 the Jawoyn people rediscovered a breathtaking spread of art work on the ceiling of the ancient Gabarnmung rock shelter, about 185 km out of Katherine, near the headwaters of Katherine River.
Over the past three years archaeologists from Monash University, have been working with Australian and French archaeologists and specialists in a bid to unveil a new chapter to Indigenous history in the Katherine region.
The Gabarnmung site and its revelations have been described as “rewriting world pre-history”, and have yielded a display of paintings so rich and vast that it has been characterised as the “Sistine Chapel of rock art.”
For the full story see this week's June 20 edition of the katherine Times.