ASTRONOMICAL SYMBOLISM IN AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ROCK ART

Traditional Aboriginal Australian cultures include a significant astronomical component, perpetuated through oral tradition and ceremony. This knowledge has practical navigational and calendrical functions, and in some cases extends to a deep understanding of the motion of objects in the sky. Here we explore whether this astronomical tradition is reflected in the rock art of Aboriginal Australians. We find several plausible examples of depictions of astronomical figures and symbols, and also evidence that astronomical observations were used to set out stone arrangements. With these exceptions astronomical themes do not seem to appear as often in rock art as in oral tradition, although it is possible that we are failing to recognise astronomical elements in rock art. Future research will attempt to address this.