• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Manhattan Tribune
  • Home
  • World
  • International
  • Wall Street
  • Business
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • International
  • Wall Street
  • Business
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
Manhattan Tribune
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

New Holocene Aboriginal Rock Rock Art Style identified in a recent study

manhattantribune.com by manhattantribune.com
29 April 2025
in Science
0
New Holocene Aboriginal Rock Rock Art Style identified in a recent study
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Improved linear naturalistic figure with a continuous and simple characteristic outline and a lack of filling. Credit: Dr. Motta in Motta et al. 2025

A recent study by Dr. Ana Paula Motta and his colleagues, in collaboration with the Aboriginal Balangarra Corporation, has identified a new rock art style of the mid-tail in the northeast Australian region of Kimberley.

The results are published in the journal Australian archeology.

The newly identified linear naturalist figures (LNF) were previously described as belonging to the animal period of irregular filling of the Pleistocene (IAP).

This study was part of the “Kimberley Visions” project, which collected data on and documented on 1,100 archaeological sites. These included 151 rock art sites containing more than 4,200 rock art reasons, including rocky art belonging to the IAP.

“The study emerged because many animal patterns had not been adapted ” with anterior IAP figures. By considering more the shape of their body, their filling and their superposition in Kimberley’s rock art sequence, it was determined that they belonged to a new group of figures,” explains Dr. Motta.

In total, 98 patterns of 22 sites were identified in the Drysdale and King George River watersheds which did not correspond to the traditional IAP despite having been classified as IAP.

“The IAP style, although it has been defined as containing naturalistic animals with irregular brushstrokes, in reality, contains a great diversity of forms, in particular when the filling conceptions are considered. Therefore, it was first important to disentangle the main attributes of IIAP, then to describe the LNF motifs”, explains Dr. Motta.

“The main challenges are linked to the establishment of iconographic borders between styles,” continues Dr. Motta. “Consequently, it was important first to unravel the main attributes of the IAP and then describe the LNF reasons.”

The IAP style emerged around 17,200 to 13,000 years and was characterized by animal representations, in particular macropods (kangaroos, wallabies, etc.). These images are generally filled with united colors and other filling conceptions. The animals are painted in dynamic poses from different angles.

On the other hand, the art of LNF represents almost exclusively animals, in particular macropods, and is generally painted with a simple linear outline, with partial or non -static static profiles.

“LNF motifs present regional cohesion in the two study areas (Drysdale River and King George River) and are made up of two main image groups based on the shape of their body: geometric and naturalist. LNF geometric has angular extremities with a lack of anatomical elements, while naturalist patterns have a linear scheme and anatomical attributes Detailed “, Dr. Motta Elaborates.

In addition, LNF paintings are generally superimposed on the IAP, in Gwion (14,000 to 12,000 years) and to the polychrome static art (12,000 to 9,000 years) but are underlying Wanjina paintings (5,000 historic / contemporary). This indicates that these images were created after IAP, Gwion and static polychrome art but before or perhaps contemporary with Wanjina’s imagery.

Discover the latest sciences, technology and space with more 100,000 subscribers which count on Phys.org for daily information. Register for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations and research that matter –Every day or weekly.

This would make LNF images much younger than it was assumed previously and indicates a return to naturalistic-motive animal imagery after centuries of anthropomorphic artistic styles (Gwion and static polychrome).

Dr. Motta explains what could have caused this change, saying: “We proposed that the LNF belongs to the Middle Holocene in Later, a period characterized by the evolution of socio-environmental conditions.

“At that time, the sea level had stabilized, new lithic technologies were introduced, and there was a possible increase in linguistic diversity. We argue that groups have been again of significant naturalistic animals, in particular macropods, during an increased period of change, where rocky art acts as a mechanism to ensure the mediation of this change.”

Dr. Motta continues: “The LNF is exclusively composed of zoomorphic patterns and two unidentified plant patterns. The animal patterns identified in the LNF style are consistent with other styles in the region, where mammals – and macropods in particular – are the most represented types of figures.

“This high concentration of macropods tells us about their meaning for Aboriginal Australians, as food resources, for symbolic functions, and also for daily life.”

According to the stories of indigenous creation, humans and non-humans, including animals and plants, had a common origin and a subsequent life link. This intimate relationship is the way in which the totemic systems were born, in which different animals were linked to the laws, customs and spiritual practices of different indigenous groups.

The representation of these animal motives may have served as a way to mark the territories, express group identity, relations, spiritual connections and social regeneration ceremonies at a time when open and mobile societies previously became more complex and territorially limited.

More information:
Ana Paula Motta et al, linear naturalist figures: a new Aboriginal rocky style of the Middle Holocene with North-East of Kimberley, Australia, Australian archeology (2025). DOI: 10.1080/03122417.2025.2457860

© 2025 Science X Network

Quote: New Holocene Aboriginal Rock Rock Art Style identified in a recent study (2025, April 29) recovered on April 29, 2025

This document is subject to copyright. In addition to any fair program for private or research purposes, no part can be reproduced without written authorization. The content is provided only for information purposes.



Tags: AboriginalartHoloceneidentifiedrockstudystyle
Previous Post

Sugar signaling treatment could increase wheat yields to 12%

Next Post

Hidden transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza virus found in Texas dairy cattle

Next Post
Hidden transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza virus found in Texas dairy cattle

Hidden transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza virus found in Texas dairy cattle

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Category

  • Blog
  • Business
  • Health
  • International
  • National
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Wall Street
  • World
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

© 2023 Manhattan Tribune -By Millennium Press

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • International
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Sports

© 2023 Manhattan Tribune -By Millennium Press