Rock Art Australia

05/06/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗢𝗙𝗬, 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Australia’s rock art sites hold important stories of our deep past, changing landscapes, and the world’s oldest continuous living culture. These remarkable places connect us to tens of thousands of years of human history, yet many are increasingly at risk.

By supporting Rock Art Australia, you are helping to protect and preserve this irreplaceable cultural heritage, support Traditional Owners and future Cultural Custodians, and fund vital co-designed research that deepens our understanding of Australia's past.

Your donation also helps us share this knowledge more broadly through free public lectures, events, and educational resources.

As an independent not-for-profit, Rock Art Australia receives no government funding. Everything we do is made possible through the generosity of our donors, supporters, and partners.

If preserving and sharing Australia's cultural heritage matters to you, please consider making your tax-deductible EOFY donation before 30 June.

DONATE TODAY: https://rockartaustralia.org.au/support-us/

22/05/2026

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸

Over the past year, the ARC Linkage Project 𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘤𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘦: 𝘎𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘒𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘪 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘺 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 has brought together GLaWAC - GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (led by Russell Mullett) and Monash University (led by Bruno David), alongside an international team of researchers, to investigate key sites in East Gippsland, Victoria.

Excavations are uncovering rich evidence of human occupation and cultural heritage stretching back tens of thousands of years and are helping to build a deeper understanding of Gunai Kurnai Country.

At the heart of this work is a new generation of researchers. GunaiKurnai Honours student Kealey Ratzmann and PhD students Dylan Jenkin, Georgia Carra, and Hugh Cowie are contributing fresh perspectives, working across cultural knowledges, archaeology, and historical records.

Their research highlights the value of two-way, on-Country collaboration, where Indigenous knowledges and scientific approaches come together to create new ways of seeing the past and understanding the enduring connections between people and place.

Head to the RAA website for more: https://rockartaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/research-projects/before-and-after-the-last-ice-age-gunaikurnai-archaeology-along-the-snowy/



Images clockwise: GunaiKurnai Honours student Kealey Ratzmann with Prof Bruno David; Dylan Jenkin; Georgia Carra (front) with GLaWAC On Country Rangers Mick Welsh Dalton, Kobi Hood and Anthony Mobourne; Hugh Cowie

21/05/2026

To celebrate 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸, we’re proud to share our support of the 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, which is documenting the Yinuma songline, a living network of stories, song, and kinship connections linking the East Arnhem mainland, Groote Eylandt’s stone country, and Angurrkwurrikba Lake on the east coast.

Led by Anindilyakwa Clan researchers, the Anindilyakwa Land Council, and archaeologists from The Australian National University, the project brings together community knowledge and archaeological methods to understand how these stories are expressed across the landscape, including in rock art.

Early work has focused on mapping places, recording stories, and pilot surveys that have already identified more than 130 rock art sites.

With support from Rock Art Australia, the next phase will extend across the full songline route through targeted surveys, small-scale excavations, and environmental analysis to deepen understanding of how people lived, moved, and shared cultural knowledge across this remarkable region over time.

Image 1: Stingray motif, central plateau, Groote Eylandt.
Image 2: Terrence Mamarika points out a stingray motif to archaeologist Stevie Skitmore at a rock shelter in Angwura valley, central Groote Eylandt.

📸credit: Yantarrnga clan estate, photo by Stevie Skitmore

20/05/2026

As part of 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 we wish to congratulate Rock Art Australia Minderoo Chair in Archaeological Science Professor Rachel Popelka-Filcoff and her team at the Archaeological Science Laboratory of the The University of Melbourne on the acceptance of their proposal, 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦, into the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Atoms and Heritage framework.

Contributing to the international Work Project “𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦”, this five-year international initiative brings together leading experts in cultural heritage analysis and archaeological science from Australia and around the world to advance provenance research, repatriation, and the protection of cultural heritage through innovative scientific approaches.

19/05/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗻.

An award-winning interdisciplinary researcher with more than 15 years of experience, Dr Shewan’s research explores ancient cultural connections spanning northern Australia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Northeast India, combining archaeological science, isotopic analysis and innovative digital conservation methods.

Earlier this year, Dr Shewan and colleagues installed an exhibit at the 𝗫𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 in north-central Laos as part of her 5-year ARC Discovery Grant: 𝘔𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘰𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢.

Supported by the Australian Embassy Small Grants Programme, the bilingual “𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘢𝘳𝘴” exhibit showcases research findings and artefacts uncovered during excavations across northern Laos.

For a deeper look into the project, read the April 2026 article published in Melbourne University’s immersive research publication 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁: “𝘎𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘫𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴” by Dr Shewan and co-authors.

Reach it through our website: www.rockartaustralia.org.au/about-us/our-people/research-chairs-and-fellows/

18/05/2026

✨We're celebrating National Archaeology Week

Thank you to the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution (ARCHE) and the Queensland College of Art and Design, Griffith University, as well as the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney for their partnership in hosting the first two events of our 2026 national lecture tour, “𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨: 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖’𝙨 𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮”, presented by Rock Art Australia Chair in Rock Art & Archaeology, Professor Chris Clarkson.

Thank you very much to both, ARCHE Director Professor Julien Louys for introducing Professor Clarkson in at the Brisbane event, and to Dr Tristen Jones for her opening remarks in Sydney. And of course, a very special thank you to all of you who joined us in the audience.

We are proud to support the work of Professor Clarkson and his team and look forward to continuing the national tour later in the year.

These events are an important opportunity for Rock Art Australia to share knowledge, encourage collaboration, and bring conversations about Australia’s deep past to audiences around the country. Please sign up to our mailing list for event information and other news.
https://rockartaustralia.org.au/news/

16/04/2026

Our latest news is out now!

Enjoy reading about Rock Art Australia–funded research projects, new appointments, publications, and upcoming events.

https://rockartaustralia.org.au/raa-news-april-2026/

14/04/2026

Join us this May for our Free Public Lecture Series with Professor Chris Clarkson, exploring human resilience, environmental change, and deep history through archaeology and rock art.

𝟭𝟮 𝗠𝗮𝘆 - 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗲
In partnership with Griffith University

𝟭𝟯 𝗠𝗮𝘆 - 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘂 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗸 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺, 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆
In partnership with the University of Sydney

This talk explores how and when the first people reached Australia, and how they adapted to dramatic environmental change.

Focusing on northern Australia, including Arnhem Land, it draws on some of the country’s richest archaeological and rock art records to reveal how rising sea levels and shifting landscapes shaped human life over tens of thousands of years.

Through current research in western Arnhem Land, supported by Rock Art Australia and conducted in partnership with Manilakarr Traditional Owners, Njanjma Rangers, and the Northern Land Council, the talk highlights how archaeology, environmental science, and rock art are helping us better understand human resilience and long-term connections to Country.

The talks are free to attend, but booking is essential.
Register now: https://rockartaustralia.org.au/events/

Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney
Queensland College of Art and Design, Griffith University

09/02/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

We’re excited to open our 2026 public talks and Q&A series and warmly invite you to our first lecture of the year, hosted by the University of Melbourne.

𝑅𝘦𝑡𝘩𝑖𝘯𝑘𝘪𝑛𝘨 𝘵ℎ𝘦 𝘧𝑖𝘳𝑠𝘵 𝘴𝑒𝘵𝑡𝘭𝑒𝘮𝑒𝘯𝑡 𝑜𝘧 𝘚𝑎𝘩𝑢𝘭: 𝑤𝘩𝑎𝘵 𝘈𝑢𝘴𝑡𝘳𝑎𝘭𝑖𝘢’𝘴 𝘥𝑒𝘴𝑒𝘳𝑡𝘴 𝘳𝑒𝘷𝑒𝘢𝑙

𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗵 will explore how early desert occupation reshapes our understanding of the first peopling of Sahul.
Drawing on new discoveries from the co-designed Desert People Laureate Project, the talk offers fresh perspectives on the remarkable adaptability of Australia’s First Peoples and their deep, enduring connection to Country.

The evening will open with a welcome from Rock Art Australia CEO, 𝐅𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐢𝐞𝐬.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐤𝐚-𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟, Rock Art Australia Minderoo Chair in Archaeological Science at the University of Melbourne, will then share an update on the complementary role of archaeological science in Indigenous Australian archaeology and highlight the growing research initiatives at the University of Melbourne, ahead of Professor Peter Veth's presentation.

The lecture will conclude with a Q&A, facilitated by RAA Director of Research, 𝐃𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧

𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒
🕠 Doors open: 5:30 pm
🕕 Lecture begins: 6:00 pm

𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄
David Penington Building, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute
The University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville
Melbourne, VIC 3010

𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐒
This is a free event, but booking is essential.
https://www.trybooking.com/DFKHU

Science at Melbourne
The University of Melbourne

We are delighted to continue our popular public talks and Q & A series and warmly invite you to our first lecture of 2026, presented by Laureate...

06/02/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭.

It was a pleasure to attend and contribute to such a thoughtfully curated program exploring the future of Earth Sciences.

RAA Director of Research Dr Helen Green and PhD student Faris Mohd Fauzi presented on 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘹𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦-𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 and 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘓𝘈-𝘐𝘊𝘗-𝘔𝘚, respectively.

Both talks were very well received, sparking lively discussion and thoughtful questions, and reinforcing the benefit of face-to-face gatherings, particularly the opportunity to connect with colleagues from related fields, and exchanging valuable new perspectives on each other’s work.

Image 1. Faris Mohd Fauzi

Image 2. Heidi Allen - Palaeontologist at the Geological Survey of WA (left), with Dr Helen Green, RAA Director of Research (right)