Australian cave painting could be 40 kya, depicts megafauna

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This just in from OZ:

Scientists say an Aboriginal rock art depiction of an extinct giant bird could be Australia’s oldest painting.

The red ochre painting, which depicts two emu-like birds with their necks outstretched, could date back to the earliest days of settlement on the continent.

It was rediscovered at the centre of the Arnhem Land plateau about two years ago, but archaeologists first visited the site a fortnight ago.

A palaeontologist has confirmed the animals depicted are the megafauna species Genyornis.

Archaeologist Ben Gunn said the giant birds became extinct more than 40,000 years ago.

Details here

Hat Tip: Iain Davidson

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3 thoughts on “Australian cave painting could be 40 kya, depicts megafauna

  1. Nonetheless there is an account of the last San artist who was murdered during a period when the KhoiSan were hunted as vermin. The story goes that he wore a waist belt to which were attached springbok horns containing coloured powders. A tale that leaves me incredibly saddened.

    And there is also San art that depicts the Boer oxwagons and European figures.

  2. Marktime, I have seen the objects the man to whom you refer was wearing. They were in the Cape Town natural history museum. I believe they have been moved to the art museum.

  3. “two emu-like birds with their necks outstretched”…

    …so in other words some animals with roundish bottom half and long necks…

    How do we “know” they are not some sort of dinosaur instead?

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