Near Dampier, Western Australia, the numerous large rocky escarpments around the Burrup peninsula contain the largest concentration of rock art in the world, estimated at perhaps a million petroglyphs (rock engravings). The oldest petroglyphs have been dated to at least 20,000 years. These are the most difficult to see as they are the faintest; many are barely distinguishable from the background rock.
We walked up a dry creek bed in a valley between the escarpments which were covered in huge mounds of boulders. Many of the petroglyphs were easy to see from the creek bed, however, David did undertake some precarious climbs up the escarpment to take photos, whilst I stood and worried about his safety.
The petroglyphs range from small engravings of emu tracks, to very large ones representing some kind of corroboree or ceremony, aboriginal figures, kangaroos, emus and other animals, turtles and fish. Sadly, the Jaburara people who once lived here have been wiped out, so no-one will ever know what the engravings really represent.
Most of the works feature an outline of the subject chipped about 1cm into the rock. It would have taken quite some doing because the rocks are extremely hard and the aboriginals only had primitive, rock-based tools. The most impressive works feature entire panels chipped away smoothly from the rock i.e. the area representing the whole body of a kangaroo having been chipped away.
We think this petroglyphs looks like a ghost
This one looks like a creature from outer space
Unfortunately this is the other face of the Burrup peninsula, the North West Gas Plant at night
