As per researchers, the transformation in landscape due to rising sea levels has lead to significant changes. Credit: Dr Jarrad Kowlessar, Flinders University.New study has disclosed that the choice of specific rock art sites in Arnhem Land holds significance as they were strategically selected for their vantage points. The research team from Flinders University, in collaboration with the Njanjma Rangers and Erre Traditional Owners, utilized various methods such as aerial and drone surveys, subsurface imaging, and elevation data to produce high-resolution palaeolandscape modeling of 103 distinct rock art sites in the Red Lily Lagoon area. This innovative approach provides a statistical model of the environmental conditions between 15,000 and 28,000 years ago – a time when the floodplain level was substantially lower than it is today.
Changes in Landscape and Their InfluenceAssociate Professor Ian Moffat from Flinders University explains that the findings offer better insights into the usage, accessibility, and visibility of the sites. Unlike the assumption made by archaeologists that the landscape has remained unchanged since the rock art was created, the research sheds light on the numerous landscape changes in the Red Lily Lagoon region, ranging from coastline, swamps, woodlands, and freshwater. These environmental alterations have a significant impact on the understanding of rock art locations and their role in the community and clan life.
The western Arnhem Land is home to globally renowned archaeological records and has undergone extensive landscape changes due to rising sea levels. The research has identified shifts such as the movement of the coastline and alterations in the terrain, transforming the open savanna into mudflats, mangrove swamps, and the present-day seasonally inundated freshwater wetlands. These changes have likely affected human movements, interactions, and the content of the art at these locations.
The aerial view approximately 6000 years ago during sea level flooding and mangroves. Credit: Dr Jarrad Kowlessar, Flinders University.Gaining Insights into Site SelectionDr Jarrad Kowlessar, Research Associate from Flinders University, highlights the findings that indicate an increase in rock art production during a period when mangroves covered the floodplains around 6,000 years ago. The presence of extensive mangroves might have facilitated abundant resources, encouraging a larger human population, or may have resulted in more people in close proximity due to the rising sea level. Interestingly, during this time, most sites were strategically chosen with views overlooking the mangrove areas. The research also suggests that during the rising sea level phase, rock art was predominantly made in areas with long-distance views, implying their potential use in hunting or for surveillance as people were displaced due to the rising water. The intentional selection of rock art site locations with nuanced relationships to the local landscape has been demonstrated through this research, offering potential in exploring the rich and significant archaeology of Arnhem Land in the future, utilizing the developed modeling.
Map displaying the study area within the larger region, inclusive of Alligator rivers, floodplains, Kakadu National Park, and Arnhem Land along with the Arnhem Plateau. Credit: Dr Jarrad Kowlessar, Flinders University.Research Team and FundingThe research team, inclusive of Dr Kowlessar and other members from Flinders University and University of Sydney, worked in collaboration with the Njanjma Rangers and Kakadu National Park. The research received funding from the Australian Research Council.
