This was another trip to look at some Aboriginal sites in the Blue Mountains. This time on Kings Tableland. Bob and myself travelled to Wentworth Falls and met up with Pete for the first part of the trip. Pete showed us two sites, that he had earlier told us about and we were keen to visit. Then Pete had to head off, so Bob and myself checked out some more sites on the Tableland. Then we finished the day looking at some early Colonial Heritage at Bulls Camp at Linden.
At Kings Tableland we first looked at small open rock platform on a great vantage point. This site features some sharpening grooves, a bowl shaped depression, and some engravings.
There are two engravings on this part of the rock. The closer one is a Kangaroo or Wallaby –
And a human shaped figure –
The second site was a small cave. Above the cave were more sharpening grooves –
The cave was quite extraordinary with lots of engraved footprints. Many were of Emus and Kangaroos, but there were a number of pecked out human footprints.
And a rock at the entrance of the cave – more sharpening grooves.
Pete then left, so Bob and myself headed to another site on a high vantage point. Here there are lots of sharpening grooves.
Nearby was an occupation cave with some engravings –
We then headed to another site further out on the Tableland. Here there is a large overhand that has some ochre art that is now very hard to discern. It has also had a lot of graffiti and other damage.
Close to the cave is a large level rock with number of sharpening grooves.
And a little further along the cliffs is an excellent cave that would have been an occupation site.
We found what we thought were some very faint hand stencils.
And there were also some nails that had been hammered into the soft sandstone.
Here Bob is pointing out two faint hand stencils –
And possible art in this nearby nook –
Bobalso found possible stone tool –
We looked around that area a bit more and climbed up to a high point for lunch in the sun.
Here we came across a large old survey cairn.
Bulls Camp
We had enough time left to stop on the way down the mountains at Bulls Camp. We first looked at an old convict cell – a small and very damp cave –
Then we looked for Bulls Bath. It is a pool chocked with weeds. Not a very attractive place.
Then to an old convict flogging stone –
Our last point of interest was a bit further afield – an old dam used to supply water for steam trains. We followed a power line access road then a faint track down to the creek where the dam is located.
The dam wall is in very good condition, but the pool is silted up.
This was a very interesting day. Thanks to Pete for showing us the first two sites.