Close Call for Ancient Rock Art
Only a few days ago some of the world’s oldest rock art was set for destruction because of a multi-billion dollar gas project in Australia. But a ruling on Sept. 15th by the Indigenous Affairs Office ruled that the pipeline had to be rerouted, saving hundreds of carved petroglyphs in Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula. This area contains thousands of pieces of Aboriginal rock art that’s 4000 to 40,000 years old. Already vandals have shockingly defaced ancient artwork up to 20,000 years old with graffiti and painted images.
Spokesman for the Wong-Gooo-Tt-Oo Ngarlama people, Wilfred Hicks, condemned the wanton mutilation of the ancient pieces because these images may be considered the Aborigines’ Bible. For the tribal people they are equivalent to stained glass windows or frescos on the walls of cathedrals. “If we went into a church and sprayed all around the church, we’d be put in jail for it.”
The argument echoes similar concerns of native Americans who protest the removal of skeletal remains from tribal burial grounds, only to be stored in museum warehouses. What kind of ruckus would be made if native American archaeologists began to disinter skeletons from graveyards in Salem or Boston?
Only a few days ago some of the world’s oldest rock art was set for destruction because of a multi-billion dollar gas project in Australia. But a ruling on Sept. 15th by the Indigenous Affairs Office ruled that the pipeline had to be rerouted, saving hundreds of carved petroglyphs in Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula. This area contains thousands of pieces of Aboriginal rock art that’s 4000 to 40,000 years old. Already vandals have shockingly defaced ancient artwork up to 20,000 years old with graffiti and painted images.
Spokesman for the Wong-Gooo-Tt-Oo Ngarlama people, Wilfred Hicks, condemned the wanton mutilation of the ancient pieces because these images may be considered the Aborigines’ Bible. For the tribal people they are equivalent to stained glass windows or frescos on the walls of cathedrals. “If we went into a church and sprayed all around the church, we’d be put in jail for it.”
The argument echoes similar concerns of native Americans who protest the removal of skeletal remains from tribal burial grounds, only to be stored in museum warehouses. What kind of ruckus would be made if native American archaeologists began to disinter skeletons from graveyards in Salem or Boston?
posted by Studio Codex's Art Decoded at 2:15 PM
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