Memorialization and the Stencilled Rock Art of Mirarr Country, Northern Australia. Issue 3 (15th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hayward, John A.; Johnston, Iain G.; May, Sally K.; Taçon, Paul S.C.
• Is Part Of: Cambridge archaeological journal. Volume 28:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 378
• Publication Date: 2018-08-15
• Subjects: Antiquities -- Periodicals; Prehistoric peoples -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1017/S095977431800015X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-7743

Abstract

Abstract : This paper addresses the motivations for producing the rare object stencils found in the rock art of western Arnhem Land. We present evidence for 84 stencils recorded as part of the Mirarr Gunwarddebim project in western Arnhem Land, northern Australia. Ranging from boomerangs to dilly bags, armlets and spearthrowers, this assemblage suggests something other than a common or ongoing culture practice of stencilling objects used in everyday life. Instead, we suggest that these stencils represent an entirely different function in rock art through a process of memorialization that was rare, opportunistic and highly selective.