Aboriginal art periods follow the climate and landscape changes that have occurred in the area.  So you have rock art from pre-estuarine period (50000 – 8000 ya).  This was during last ice age when earth much cooler.  Sea levels were 150m lower than today and the coastline was 300km north of its present location and joined New Guinea.  Kakadu was covered by low open woodland and shrub land typical of arid Australia today.  \typical pictures were of prints of hands and objects like bunches of grass.  20000 years ago was the large naturalistic style period.  Big animals, some now extinct. 15000 years ago you got simple figures with boomerangs.  The estuarine period was 8000 to 2000 years ago.  The earth began to warm up 15000 years ago, sea levels slowly rose to present position about 6000 years ago.  Mangrove swamps formed on floodplains and open forest woodland and savannahs replaced the scrub.  X ray art started during this period – literally animals with x ray features like stomachs, ribs etc.  Because the environment became less harsh, more prey and other food around, cultural diversity increased.  Freshwater period 2000 years ago to present.  Sediment choked the swamps and floodplains developed.  Along with that came invasion of freshwater animals so you start to see paintings of magpie geese, humans with goose wing fans, terrapins etc.

Traditionally lots of people camped at Ubirr – lots of rock shelters and cool breezes.  The rainbow serpent, Garranga’rreli, travelled through this area in human form and painted her image on the rock here to remind people of her presence.  She sleeps in Gunlom main plunge pool.  Her stop here is part of a longer creation path (or dream line) that link together various places in Arnhem land.  

The rainbow serpent is one of the most powerful ancestors of creation time.  Aboriginals are reminded of her in the winter months when rainbows appear in the sky.  The rainbow serpent usually lives peacefully in waterways but can be upset by some noises, especially children crying (no news there then).  One day the rainbow serpent heard a child crying for sweet lily root.  When night fell the child was given sour lily root so it cried even more all night long.  In the morning cold gusts of wind sprang up – signs that the rainbow serpent is near.  The rainbow serpent rushed into the camp, trapped nearly everyone with its huge circled body and ate everyone.  Message don’t let kids cry and everyone is responsible for children not just the parents.

The bones of this person are swollen at some points.  Said to be swollen by Miyamiya, - a sickness that you get if you disturb the stones on a (unnamed) sacred site downstream on the East Alligator River.  This is one of the reasons aboriginal people are so concerned about keeping sacred sites secret – they are dangerous to everyone.

Although the art was better at Anbangbang, this is older. These are the Namarrgarn sisters.  When aboriginal children are told about the sisters they learn about crocodiles and their dangers.  The Namarrgarn sisters used to play games near the mouth of the East Alligator River, where they would hide from each other by chganging into crocodiles.  One day one of the sisters suggested they turn into crocodiles so they could kill anyone they wanted to, no matter what clan.  So they travelled to a freshwater spring near Point Farewell and changed into crocdiles.  The palms that grow around the spring are derived from ther teeth that they planted in the soil around the spring when they metamorphosed.  As crocodiles, the Namarrgarn sisters always know where their vxtims are because of the large scales on the backs of their necks have extra sesory powers.  The two bones that stick up either side of the top of the crocodiles head are said to be the Namarrgarn sisters.  Its not too clear in the picture but the sisters are holding string between their hands.  These are commonly carried by older women who manipulate them with their fngers to make complicated designs of animals and lightning.

This gallery also tells a law story.  The aboriginals have loads of stories relating to law, custom etc.  They don’t change, as the guide said, they are.  These figures are of men with hunting and killing sticks.  The story is that a young girl was out on her own and she caught a barramundi.  Now she was at a certain stage where the fish was forbidden for her to eat.  However, no one was a round and shame to waste a fish so she decided to eat it.  Two fellas from another clan were passing and they caught her eating the forbidden fish and beat her up as punishment.  The girl made her way back to her own clan.  They were horrified and asked her what happened, so shamefully she told them.  Now this clan was very upset with the two young men on two counts. 1. They thought the punishment that they had handed out to the girl was too severe and 2. It was not up to them to punish the girl.  Result the clan went to war with the other clan.  So a bit of law and a true story thrown in.  Young boys are told this story by older men pointing spears at them. The figure on the left is holding up a spear in a throwing stick.  The guy on the right has a barbed spear going under his arm – a killer throw.

The guy on the left ahs a goosewing fan in his hand.  From his elbow hangs an ornament and he is carrying a dillybag.

More warrior figures, all a bit confused as on top, or beneath, of other images.

This looks like a man with a musket to me.

This is the main gallery.  Most of the pictures here are from what’s known as the freshwater period, within the last 1500 years.  You can see lots of food available, pictures of fish, waterfowl, mussels, wallabies etc.  This is a mullet with its head snapped backwards to make sure it doesn’t flip back into the water.  You can also see its backbone, digestive track and organs.

Animal fat is considered a delicacy and is highlighted in yellow ochre in this turtle.

Eel tail catfish, rectangular head and oval body, and backbone.  Barbels at the front.

This is barammundi.  The upturned mouth, backbone (in the moddle) and digestive tract outlined.

Another barramundi.

This is the Saratoga, although this is a bit squat.  It’s always drawn smaller than barramundi (to the right).  Again you can see backbone and digestive track and organs.  It doesn’t have that tilted mouth ether.