So many stories preserved



The feeling of trying to uncover meanings

By Jasmine Baker

After a lengthy journey to Kakadu from Darwin, we arrived at an area surrounded by tropical scrub. Walking down a rocky path, we were greeted by beautiful swampy surroundings. The native flora in the area was a fascinating accompaniment to our walk in the hot, thick air. The scrub cleared and we arrived at a tall escarpment. After a short walk, we arrived at Ubirr - a beautiful site consisting of Indigenous rock art. The images presented to us were around 1500 years old, from the most recent freshwater period. The art allowed us to step back into this time, observing the abundance of food in the area - images of barramundi, goannas and echidnas. Some paintings are said to have been 2000-3000 years old. The feeling of trying to uncover meanings and piece these to aspects of history was nothing short of fascinating. We marvelled at what was before us, so many stories preserved over a period of time so hard to grasp. The most intriguing painting I found personally, was the image of a ship. It allowed me to imagine how land has shifted over time. I thought of what the meaning of this image would have held to the Indigenous people over time. This site was a collection of captivating art to us, but only hundreds of years ago it was a means of survival for those that walked there.


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