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Rock Art of Australia

Part 1 – The Country and the Art

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A Presentation by David Lee

Both Australia and the New World were originally colonized by peoples who brought with them rich spiritual and symbolic systems. These people successfully adapted to major environmental changes, and these adaptations may be reflected in the paintings and engravings they left on cliff faces and shelter walls. Despite being a world apart, there are surprising parallels in the production, evolution, and context of rock art on the two continents. Viewing rock art with a global perspective highlights both the similarities and the differences of people surviving under similar circumstances. This lecture is Part 1 of a two-part series by David Lee on his thoughtful and detailed research work on Australian rock art, presenting an introduction focusing on the environmental and cultural context of this fascinating cultural heritage, its associated ethnography, and current research trends. Join us in August for Part 2 – The Cultures and the Stories!

David Lee is an independent rock art researcher focusing on the function and context of Native American rock art of western North America and the rock art and associated traditional knowledge of northern Australia. He is a founding member of Western Rock Art Research, a non-profit organization located in Bishop and dedicated to the study and management of rock art. He has documented rock art in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and Australia, and has co-authored several papers and reports on the Mojave Desert, eastern California, and Australia. Between 2005 and 2017 he and his wife Charlotte worked with the Wardaman People of the Northern Territory to document their rock art sites and associated traditional stories. During this time they also visited several other areas with concentrations of rock art and assisted Australian researchers on projects in two other regions of the Top End of Australia.

San Diego Rock Art Association Virtual Meeting

Sunday, April 16, 2023, 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time

This meeting will be held via Zoom

April 16, 2023, Starting at 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)

Meeting room will open approximately 15 minutes early

Free Registration Required

Click Here to Register