Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Laura, well we stopped here on the way to Cape York (The Most northan point of Australia) But we needed a 4x4 to get further up. :(
So we called at Laura and its just like Radiator Springs out of Cars, there's a population of around 80 people, around 25 or so White, and the rest Aboriginal. There's a Motel/Bar, couple houses, cultural center and ranches. Not alot in this sleepy town. It gets cut of in rainy season as the river bed/road is flooded. We were alright as it had completely dried up. We had some beverages with the local town folk in the only watering hole there. Spoke to a few which was nice.
We come here to see the Aboriginal Rock art, which dates back around 20,000 years! Which is amazing to see, as you can tell by looking at them, how some are more faded than the next. These used to be camp grounds for Aboriginal people, who used to mark the walls with Orca (A Powdery Sand), mixed with water to make paint. This stained the 'Sandstone' Rocks which is how its still visable today. Some of its been ground away by the sand battering the rocks when windy.
But this art is amazing. Really basic pictures replicating animals, species, objects around them. People are still trying to translate the images, as they have all got a meaning for them to be made into artwork. They all have different 'Totums' These could be anything, fish, honey, dingo, and the main Higheraki would intergrate his totum into his human picture.
Quote from Wiki "Rock art gives us descriptive information about social activities, material culture, economy, environmental change, myth and religion. This is an Aboriginal way of showing recognition and wisdom-to be open to the environment."
- comments