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Arnhem Land prehistory in landscape, stone and paint

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Paul S. C. Taçon
Affiliation:
Division of Anthropology, Australian Musuem, 6–8 College Street, Sydney 2000. Australia
Sally Brockwell
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Northern Territory University, Darwin 0909, Australia

Abstract

Western Arnhem Land is a small area (by Australian standards) on the north coast where remarkable sequences of sediment illuminate its complex landscape history. Matching the enviromental succession is an archaeological sequence with lithic sites running back into the Pleistocene. The famous richness of the region's rock-art also documents the human presence, again over a great time-depth, and gives a direct report of how ancient Arnhem Landers depicted themselves. By ‘bridging’ between these three themes, a rare and perhaps unique synthesis can be built.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 1995

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