Faraway Bay Media Kit / Ancient Rock Art at Faraway Bay

Notes from Archaeologist Lee ScottVirtue

The range and diversity of rock artin the general area of Faraway Bay isextraordinary.

The sites are often located in someof the most amazing geological rock formations found anywhere in the Kimberley.

Images

• Therock art images range from petroglyph (engraved) to painted motifs and coverstylistic variations ranging from early cupule, hand stencils and red ochreinfill animal and anthropomorphic motifs through to the Wandjina period of rockart.
• Anextraordinary range of the late Pleistocene Bradshaw art can also be found inalmost every rock outcrop located throughout the area.Although there is a distinct regionalvariation in a lot of the Bradshaw anthropomorphic figures, the distinctive andelaborately costumed 'sash' and 'tassel' figures are also located in thegeneral area of Faraway Bay.
• Thearchaeological evidence indicates that the Faraway Bayarea may have been one of the central areas 'settled' by the painters of theBradshaw style of rock art.
• Thethousands of images found in the immediate Faraway Bayarea and the incredible diversity and range of the Bradshaw motifs areproviding a valuable insight into the social and cultural behaviour of thepeople who left this style of art behind.

Access

• Accessto many of the rock art sites at Faraway Bay is mostly by boat,however minimal vehicle access and a lot of walking can also take the keen rockart enthusiast into some magnificent sites
• Aminimum of 4 days is needed to do the art in this area full justice,particularly if the interest is in looking at the broad range of rock artstyles that can be found at Faraway Bay. A reasonable levelof fitness is also necessary.

Rock Art Must Do's at Faraway Bay

• The 'Lost City of the Bradshaw's'.This requires one full day with access only by boat.The rock art in this area is primarily Bradshaw but also has a full range of other styles of rock art painting. The geological features of this area are unique and 'puzzling'. Mother Nature has created what appear to be 'streets' dividing the parallel dome like structures containing the rock art.The whole area gives the impression one is walking through an ancient man-made settlement.

• The Gumboot Bay 'Hidden City' of rock art.A full day is required for this area. Access to this area is either by vehicle or by boat or a combination of both.As well as containing sites that are predominantly Bradshaw, there are also sites containing a range of early red ochre 'infill' rock art.The rock art images can be found along cliff faces and throughout the various 'mushroom' sandstone dome structures found along the creek-line.

• The Monitor (Boab Bay) rock art sites. A full day is required. Access to this area is by boat or walking and/or a combination of both.This area contains the full range of rock art, including some of the most extraordinary panels of Bradshaw images found anywhere in the Kimberley.The rare 'motif' Bradshaw anthropomorphic images are found in this area.Post contact Aboriginal activity can also be found and provides a significant insight into the various types of mission items Aboriginal people valued and took with them when returning to some of their traditional areas of occupation.

• Axe head Midden.A full day is required.Access only by boat.This area contains a shell midden covering several hundred meters.There is also a full range of rock art, including Bradshaw images located in the escarpment overlooking the midden.Largely unexplored there is an opportunity to discover new rock art sites.

• Waterline Creek 'Lookout' rock art sites.Access is by walking with some climbing involved.This walk is a moderate on and is only a couple of hours.This area provides the full range of rock art including panels of the 'sash' Bradshaw images. The view out to sea from the top of the escarpment is breath-taking and provides a great vantage spot to speculate on why this area was chosen by the painters behind the Bradshaw style of art.

• Lily Lagoon rock art sites.Access is by vehicle and involves half a day.This area contains a full range of various styles of rock art including the Bradshaw style. As its name implies there are some beautiful Lily covered Lagoons located in the general area, providing an insight into why Aboriginal people have used the area for thousands of years.Also a good area for bird lovers.

“The rock art is very important. It's a living thing. When I go, I hear things like people laughing and crying, people dancing. Spiritual things. It's very sacred.”
Ju Ju Wilson

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