My friend Bob, was back from an overseas holiday, and we were keen to resume our weekly bushwalks. On our last trip, we had looked for heritage sites in a particular part of the Blue Mountains and had not had much success. And we were both keen to go back for a more thorough look.
On this trip, we did have more success. On the day we visited three locations. At the first one we were looking for Aboriginal sites.
we found one cave, that was close to a tourist track, and it may have had faint art in it – but it also had old graffiti.
The second cave we found was a lot better. It was a small cave, but had a air it of charcoal art. There were about seven human figures and some other drawing – of perhaps snakes.
This was the clearest human figure –
And these could be snakes –
Not too far away, we found this old engraving. It spells out “J STRATTON” and has been chiselled into the rock. It would have been made by Joe Stratton, a local identity, probably circa 1920’s. It is possible he may have been helping to construct tracks in the area at the time.
On our previous trip, Bob had found stone tool. We looked in the same place to see if were could find it again. We didn’t, but did find another –
This tool has been edged, and is not made from local rock.
We then looked nearby for more sites. We inspected quite a few caves without finding any art, but they could have bene occupation caves.
We did find these nice rock orchids –
In one cave, we found what may be a faint hand stencil –
We then checked out a second area – looking for a habitation cave used by a hermit or homeless person early in the 20th century. We checked out a lot of ledges but did not have any luck finding caves suitable for a person to reside in.
Then to a third area, where we found an old engraving, made by the above cave dweller.
This had been an interesting day out.
Where are these aboriginal caves buddy? What’s the point of posting these things online without providing any information. The mystery is what keeps this culture under the rug, and you’re just helping it die out with the secrecy, sweeping it further under the rug until future generations won’t even know what a hand stencil looks like.
There are many people who will vandalise these sites if their locations become known. Most Aboriginal art sited known to the public have large grates over the front to prevent them from being defaced by hateful, racist people. It is unfortunate, but keeping these places secret is often one of the only ways to preserve them.
Unfortunately, too may Aboriginal art sites have been vandalised. Some have a measure of protection by being remote. But others, like the art sites here are not. I think people that make the effort to look and find them will appreciate them as a window in a very old culture. Also – I am not one the traditional custodians, whose ancestors created the art.