TY - JOUR
T1 - Survival, Social Cohesion and Rock Art
T2 - The Painted Hands of Western Arnhem Land, Australia
AU - May, Sally K.
AU - Taylor, Luke
AU - Frieman, Catherine
AU - Taçon, Paul S.C.
AU - Wesley, Daryl
AU - Jones, Tristen
AU - Goldhahn, Joakim
AU - Mungulda, Charlie
PY - 2020/8/1
Y1 - 2020/8/1
N2 - This paper explores the complex story of a particular style of rock art in western Arnhem Land known as 'Painted Hands'. Using new evidence from recent fieldwork, we present a definition for their style, distribution and place in the stylistic chronologies of this region. We argue these motifs played an important cultural role in Aboriginal society during the period of European settlement in the region. We explore the complex messages embedded in the design features of the Painted Hands, arguing that they are more than simply hand stencils or markers of individuality. We suggest that these figures represent stylized and intensely encoded motifs with the power to communicate a high level of personal, clan and ceremonial identity at a time when all aspects of Aboriginal cultural identity were under threat.
AB - This paper explores the complex story of a particular style of rock art in western Arnhem Land known as 'Painted Hands'. Using new evidence from recent fieldwork, we present a definition for their style, distribution and place in the stylistic chronologies of this region. We argue these motifs played an important cultural role in Aboriginal society during the period of European settlement in the region. We explore the complex messages embedded in the design features of the Painted Hands, arguing that they are more than simply hand stencils or markers of individuality. We suggest that these figures represent stylized and intensely encoded motifs with the power to communicate a high level of personal, clan and ceremonial identity at a time when all aspects of Aboriginal cultural identity were under threat.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084295957&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0959774320000104
DO - 10.1017/S0959774320000104
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85084295957
SN - 0959-7743
VL - 30
SP - 491
EP - 510
JO - Cambridge Archaeological Journal
JF - Cambridge Archaeological Journal
IS - 3
ER -