Showing posts with label Aboriginal Rock Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aboriginal Rock Art. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Mental blank.
Tonight when I sat down to type this post I couldn’t think of a single thing to post about.
I seem to be using up my creative energy on my WIP and on photography at the moment.
Ah well I’ll just have to rely on the second of those for a post tonight.
Back to the Grampians tonight.
During our second day there we visited a second Aboriginal rock art site.
Like Billimina this site is also protected behind a wire barrier.
The mindless morons who vandalized this panel of figures show why the protection is needed.
This panel has a faint parade of figures across it. 
I wonder if they represent the people who lived here or spirits.
Finally two sections that give the shelter its name Manja,
Manja means ‘hands’ in the language of the people of this land.
This last photo is one of my favorite ever.
Technically it isn’t a great photo but I really feel it captures the essence of this place. It feels to me that the people of old have reached down through the centuries to touch us today.
I seem to be using up my creative energy on my WIP and on photography at the moment.
Ah well I’ll just have to rely on the second of those for a post tonight.
Back to the Grampians tonight.
During our second day there we visited a second Aboriginal rock art site.
Like Billimina this site is also protected behind a wire barrier.
The mindless morons who vandalized this panel of figures show why the protection is needed.
This panel has a faint parade of figures across it. 
I wonder if they represent the people who lived here or spirits.Finally two sections that give the shelter its name Manja,
Manja means ‘hands’ in the language of the people of this land.This last photo is one of my favorite ever.
Technically it isn’t a great photo but I really feel it captures the essence of this place. It feels to me that the people of old have reached down through the centuries to touch us today.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Nga keeat Billimina
In the rugged Grampian ranges.
Along rough bush trails
Hidden in the high ground around the valleys
Often under shallow overhangs like this
Lie special places
Nga keeat Billimina
In the language of the people of the land “Welcome to Billimina shelter.”
Billimina is a special place, this shallow overhang which lies behind a cleared dance –floor has a rock face literally covered with thousands of markings.
In fact this is the single largest collection of symbols in one shelter in the whole of Victoria.
Most are like these simple vertical strokes.
“Tally marks” early and unimaginative European explorers called them.
The archaeologists who explored this site can tell us that it was in use for thousands of years
And that the paintings here were made across a period of at least hundreds of years.
Some are vivid as if painted days rather than decades or centuries ago
Others are faint and faded and slowly being covered by the dark blotches left by the natural weathering of the rock
Some are clearly human-like figures.
Maybe representations of the people who were here, maybe of spirits.
The knowledge is lost, or perhaps the descendants of the people wish to keep their secrets.
But do not mistake secrets for hostility most of the people are welcoming.
In the words of a local community elder:
“We have always lived here.
Now you have come,
Respect our culture.
It is now part of your heritage"
And most do.
But I must finish with a sad side of these ancient places
Over 100 are known just in the Grampian Ranges. Only 5 are made public
The rest lie hidden
Because while most respect these places for what they are the few…
Mean that such sites must be protected.
In a few days more rock art
Next: Waterfalls in the Grampians
Along rough bush trails
Hidden in the high ground around the valleys
Often under shallow overhangs like this
Lie special places
Nga keeat Billimina
In the language of the people of the land “Welcome to Billimina shelter.”Billimina is a special place, this shallow overhang which lies behind a cleared dance –floor has a rock face literally covered with thousands of markings.
In fact this is the single largest collection of symbols in one shelter in the whole of Victoria.
Most are like these simple vertical strokes.
“Tally marks” early and unimaginative European explorers called them.
The archaeologists who explored this site can tell us that it was in use for thousands of yearsAnd that the paintings here were made across a period of at least hundreds of years.
Some are vivid as if painted days rather than decades or centuries ago
Others are faint and faded and slowly being covered by the dark blotches left by the natural weathering of the rock
Some are clearly human-like figures.
Maybe representations of the people who were here, maybe of spirits.The knowledge is lost, or perhaps the descendants of the people wish to keep their secrets.
But do not mistake secrets for hostility most of the people are welcoming.
In the words of a local community elder:
“We have always lived here.
Now you have come,
Respect our culture.
It is now part of your heritage"
And most do.But I must finish with a sad side of these ancient places
Over 100 are known just in the Grampian Ranges. Only 5 are made public
The rest lie hidden
Because while most respect these places for what they are the few…
Mean that such sites must be protected.
In a few days more rock artNext: Waterfalls in the Grampians
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A Vote (because I am too tired for a proper post)
I promised more piccies from the Grampians.
Well once again I have returned with 1,000s of photos.
We got home after four hours on the highway which followed a long day in the Grampians. So I am as we Aussies say buggered! (Which means tired in Aussie lingo).
So rather than making a decision I am asking you, my good readers, to decide which do I post about first? (NO votes for all of the above, I have way too much to fit in one post!)
Ancient Aboriginal rock art:
Wonderful waterfalls:
Or Beautiful Wild flowers:
Well once again I have returned with 1,000s of photos.
We got home after four hours on the highway which followed a long day in the Grampians. So I am as we Aussies say buggered! (Which means tired in Aussie lingo).
So rather than making a decision I am asking you, my good readers, to decide which do I post about first? (NO votes for all of the above, I have way too much to fit in one post!)
Ancient Aboriginal rock art:
Wonderful waterfalls:
Or Beautiful Wild flowers:
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