A gem to the world history archive.
This special place tucked away in Arnhem Land has recorded history non-stop for the last 18,000 years. Known as Djulirri by the Manganowal people and located in the Wellington ranges of the Northern Territory, Australia, this library of rock art holds 18,000 years of recorded history. It is "the longest length of non-stop recorded history found in the world". Recording that goes back to at least 14,000 BC, and the Manganowal people only ceased painting on these walls just 60 years ago.
"Djulirri is like a library or an archive where we can go back and see the log books and diary entries about what happened here in the past. It should be preserved." - Traditional owner Ronald Lamilami
No images were done in Europe for another 10,000 years at the time the Manganowal people painted this library of historical information. Journalists a few years back had the privilege to visit Djulirri and wrote about this remarkable archive that redraws history.
The Djulirri art contains layered paintings on top of one another. There are 3000 paintings in up to 20 layers, and double that amount spread across the Wellington ranges. A documentary released back in 2013 titled 'First Footprints' featured Djulirri:
There are three sites the study included in the Wellington Ranges with well over 6000 paintings. [Malarrak, Maliwawa (Bald Rock), and Djulirri]. Researchers have been focusing on dealings between Macassans and the original people of Arnhem Land, in which two sites suggest small camps set up by the Macassans. The 28 ships painted at Djulirri and twice that amount of recorded vessels across all the sites show that the original people had intimate knowledge of many foreign boats and visitors.
Such images include Prau Vessels, which refer to a period in history when fleets made seasonal visits from southern Sulawesi (Macassar). Also stunning depictions of Luggers, Steamers, Naval Vessels, and even a biplane. The details of ships painted during the time of European occupation of Australia include the interior of certain vessels, which suggests the original people had been on board the ships. Manganowal Traditional owner Ronald Lamilami explains Djulirri and tells of how his great-uncle boarded a Macassan boat and travelled to Macassar, never to return home.
The original people likely boarded some of these vessels, and a few had already travelled as far as Darwin by foot. Some researchers have suggested that Manganowal people may have been given a magazine on their trip to Darwin containing images of the boats and copied them. Ronald explained how there was no such thing known to his people as magazines when he was young, and the depiction of this early European sailing vessel below illustrates the time of European arrival to Australia. A time when there was no such thing as magazines.
The location of these images is about 30 km inland. Taking into account the time and energy it takes for a person to walk 30 km and then paint what they had seen much earlier, the original people had a remarkable photographic memory to be able to create such detailed depictions in their art.
Note also the characters in the paintings and how [Ronald explains them]. His ancestors depicted European people in their rock art as if it was the first time they had seen them.
Painting depictions of the people you see for the first time is one thing, however, depicting their character is a brilliant form of passing on knowledge. The illustrated ships of Europeans show them all with hats on and some smoking tobacco pipes. The critical detail depicted in the paintings is that all their hands are on their hips. Ronald explains how in the mission, the superintendents would stand and speak with their hands on their hips which the Manganowal people perceived as them being "The Boss" or superior over them. This depiction is the same as a letter or sign of written warning today that reads “Beware” or “Take caution”. The Manganowal ancestors passed down a style of painting that the people could read as a warning that they should be wary of these strangers.
There are many paintings of boats in this region and rock art around the country. This image (above) is from Gabarnmung also painted in the same style. (below) a petroglyph from the Pilbara W.A. with the same depiction.
Djulirri is not only the number one contact rock art site in Australia, perhaps the world, but it simply stands out around the world in how time and history can be captured in rock Art. Of the over 3000 paintings, and prints there are x-ray art of emus, kangaroos, beeswax figures and even depictions of extinct megafauna. There are also stencils of whole birds, something not found elsewhere in the world.
Images found at Djulirri
Birds - 10
Planes - 3
Bicycle - 1
Humans - 233
Four Wheel Buggy - 1
Land Mammals - 28
Knives - 3
Unknown - 181
Tobacco Pouch -1
Tobacco Tin - 3
Smoking Pipe - 2
Geometric - 64
Horned Animals - 6
Buildings - 1
Guns - 6
You can find a Quick Overview of depictions at the three sites > here
There is still much research and more to learn from Djulirri. One thing that cannot be taken away from Djulirri, along with the many other rock art sites across Australia, is the significance Aboriginal people have left behind. We have not found examples of recorded history like Djulirri elsewhere. This remarkable achievement is a significant contribution to the World History archives. The most continuous library and recorded history in the world.
Acknowledgment to the Traditional Manganowal people and country.
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Further Sources:
Images may be subject to copyright, for more information on Djulirri and HD images please see Paul Tacon collection Rock Art Database.
Rock art evidence for Macassans – Aboriginal contact in northwestern Arnhem Land - http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p241301/pdf/ch08.pdf
Megafauna depictions in Australian rock art - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280621908_Megafauna_depictions_in_Australian_rock_art
Painted ships on a painted Arnhem Land Landscape - https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/bitstream/handle/10072/59612/90892_1.pdf?sequence=1
Rock Art Australia - https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/impact/rock-art
[First Footprints] Press kit - http://www.aborigenes-australie.info/images/First_Footprints_Press_Kit_-_S.pdf
Oral History - How oral cultures memorise so much information and American Association for the Advancement of Science - Is an Aboriginal tale of an ancient volcano the oldest story ever told?
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