Extraordinary Back-to-Back Human and Animal Figures in the Art of Western Arnhem Land, Australia: One of the World's Largest Assemblages. Issue 4 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taçon, Paul S.C.; May, Sally K.; Goldhahn, Joakim; Taylor, Luke; Brady, Liam M.; Ressel, Alex; Jalandoni, Andrea; Wesley, Daryl; Maralngurra, Gabriel
• Is Part Of: Cambridge archaeological journal. Volume 32:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 707
• Page End: 720
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Antiquities -- Periodicals; Prehistoric peoples -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1017/S0959774322000129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-7743

Abstract

Abstract : Depictions of mythical beings appear in many different forms of art world-wide, including rock art of various ages. In this paper we explore a particular type of imagery, back-to-back figures, consisting of two human-like figures or animals of the same species next to each other and facing in opposite directions. Some human-like doubles were joined at the back rather than side-by-side, but also face opposite directions. In this paper, we report on new research on rock art, bark paintings and recent paintings on paper and chart a 9000-year history of making aesthetically, symbolically and spiritually powerful back-to-back figures in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia.