ancient roos
December 12, 2024 12:28 AM Subscribe
one painting of a kangaroo is securely dated to between 17,500 and 17,100 years on the basis of the ages of three overlying and three underlying wasp nests. This is the oldest radiometrically dated in situ rock painting so far reported in Australia [nature, via artark]
ruse? [researchgate] (content note: drop bears)
ruse? [researchgate] (content note: drop bears)
I’m concerned that HearHere is posting in kangaroos while chariot pulled by cassowaries is posting on poo and Wordshore is nowhere to be found! Is this “switch up beats day”?
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:53 AM on December 12 [2 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:53 AM on December 12 [2 favorites]
Wouldn't catch me idly painting a kangaroo within 200 years of 6 wasp nests.
posted by axiom at 8:44 AM on December 12 [1 favorite]
posted by axiom at 8:44 AM on December 12 [1 favorite]
I can't believe they defaced this wonderful natural bit of rock, we're supposed to get sooo mad when people draw on nature.
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:27 AM on December 12
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:27 AM on December 12
Is this “switch up beats day”?
GenjiandProust rues a ruse with roos?
(i am oft inspired by chariot pulled by cassowaries & also miss Wordshore)
posted by HearHere at 10:18 AM on December 12
GenjiandProust rues a ruse with roos?
(i am oft inspired by chariot pulled by cassowaries & also miss Wordshore)
posted by HearHere at 10:18 AM on December 12
"In situ" is doing some work here. The authors in the paywalled Nature article from 2021 mention in less than one sentence the fragmentary piece of rock art which flaked off the roof of a rockshelter and landed in well-dated archaeological sediments at Nawarla Gabarnmang in Arnhem Land. Charcoal rich soil adhering to to this fragment was dated to 28,000 years ago, meaning the slab is very, very likely to be at least that old, considering the very well organized sediments at NG. The 2021 authors say this is not assignable to a style, but it is clearly a piece of symbolic expression as illustrated in Bruno David et al 2013.
A similar story, but older, is found at Nauwalabila rockshelter, though not as well dated. Meanwhile use of red ochre in the form of striated hematite "crayons" has been found in 55,000 year old layers at Madjedbebe shelter. Ochre was also transported >100km and used in burial rituals at Lake Mungo in Victoria by 42,000.
The worlds oldest known figurative rock art is on Sulawesi (on the way humans likely took to Sahul / Australia, and it is some 35-45,000 years old.
Anyway this is a cool study, and !kangaroos, but they are definitely carving out a well-defined niche, and then claiming something is the oldest, which is kind of a trope in archaeological investigation worldwide.
Also if you are not familiar with Nawarla Gabarnmang, it is one of the world's greatest rock art sites IMHO.
posted by Rumple at 11:15 AM on December 12 [2 favorites]
A similar story, but older, is found at Nauwalabila rockshelter, though not as well dated. Meanwhile use of red ochre in the form of striated hematite "crayons" has been found in 55,000 year old layers at Madjedbebe shelter. Ochre was also transported >100km and used in burial rituals at Lake Mungo in Victoria by 42,000.
The worlds oldest known figurative rock art is on Sulawesi (on the way humans likely took to Sahul / Australia, and it is some 35-45,000 years old.
Anyway this is a cool study, and !kangaroos, but they are definitely carving out a well-defined niche, and then claiming something is the oldest, which is kind of a trope in archaeological investigation worldwide.
Also if you are not familiar with Nawarla Gabarnmang, it is one of the world's greatest rock art sites IMHO.
posted by Rumple at 11:15 AM on December 12 [2 favorites]
Sci-Hub link to main paper that anyone can read. There's also a pdf on Researchgate that may be licensed.
posted by Nelson at 4:23 PM on December 12
posted by Nelson at 4:23 PM on December 12
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(Elsewhere: I appears there are various precautions which must be taken to prevent drop-bear attacks)
posted by rongorongo at 2:54 AM on December 12 [3 favorites]