~ Burrup Rock Art ~

It was a real privilege to make contact with Mr Ken Mulvaney, local archeologist, who prepared the children for their excursion to Deep Gorge, part of the 'largest rock art gallery in the world'. Ken showed the children slides of various examples, explaining their type and purpose (as far as we are able to assess it today).

Ken's message was very much one of respect, understanding and reflection. After three and a half hours moving on, over and under the rocks, here are some of the children's responses.

Today the class went to the Burrup with Mr Mulvaney. We saw some rock art and some were high up. Since they were so high, some people were climbing. I was too.

(KEVIN)

 

The art is called 'etchings' or 'petroglyphs'. It is important that you take good care of it. (LUKE)

 
We tried to tell the difference between pecked, abraded, incised, scratched and indistinct examples. (MARCUS)

 

I found out that the people who did the work weren't doing it for fun. They did it to tell the tribe different things, like where the best hunting spot was.

(SAVANNA)

 
We found a rare picture of a Tasmanian Tiger (thought by many to have only existed  in Tasmania) This proves that they were on the mainland and probably became extinct when they had to compete with dingos for their food.

(CHARLIE & WILLOW)

 

 I thought it was good that all the parents gave up their time. It was interesting to see the machine that measures rain, if it rains for more than an hour. It can tell if 'acid rain' is damaging the rocks.

(NIKKI)
I think it's important to keep the rocks clean and people shouldn't draw on them. I'm also worried about the industry wrecking the atmosphere and ruining the art with the acid in the air.

(LEIGHTON)

 

 

Mr Mulvaney is worried about the rock art being destroyed. It's important that we keep it clean and respect it. (EMILY B)

 
Some tourists try to be smart and try to make a different story out of the old pictures and that's wrecking the Aboriginal rock art. (MEGAN)

 

You've got to treat it like your ancestors gave it to you to pass on to your grandson.

(MITCHELL)

 
So why don't you go out there and have a look? You will find great things! (ZAC)

Thank you, Mrs Upton for setting everything up, thanks to the parents who accompanied us and helped keep us safe: Mr Campbell, Mr Bakota, Mr Brown and Mrs Gray, also to Mr Bain who drove the bus but most of all, to Mr Mulvaney who shared his passion with us. We won't forget it!