A giant snake was found on the ceiling of a cave – it is nearly 7 metres long

Scholars believe that many of the particularly large figures in this area may have been created after the indigenous peoples came into contact with Europeans. It is possible that these large-scale depictions of powerful ancestors helped to emphasise traditions and a connection to the land during a period of rapid social change.

Details

The research was carried out in the Avunbarna region, also known as Mount Borradaile, in northern Australia. Since 2018, archaeologists, working alongside the traditional landowner, Amurdak Charlie Mungulda, have documented rock art at approximately 165 sites.

Of particular interest were depictions of the Rainbow Serpent – a powerful ancestral being that holds an important place in the cultures of Australia’s Indigenous peoples.

In total, the researchers recorded 29 such images across 21 sites – the largest known concentration in the region.

One of the most impressive drawings is located in the AW5 rock shelter. It measures approximately 6.1 metres in a straight line and about 6.9 metres along the curve of the body. The creature has a large, crocodile-like head, teeth and a long tongue.

Nearby, researchers also discovered other unusually large figures – animals, a human figure over two metres long and a rare depiction of a whale. Furthermore, the region is home to a rock formation approximately 124 metres long, the shape of which resembles a Rainbow Serpent.

It is impossible to date most of the drawings with certainty. However, many of them overlay older images and are executed in later styles. The authors believe that a significant proportion of the Rainbow Snakes may have been created as early as the 19th–20th centuries, following the increased European presence.

Why this is important

Avunbarnah lay at the crossroads of routes used by different language groups and was an important site for trade, ceremonies and gatherings. In the late 19th century, the region also faced rapid changes linked to colonisation and the development of industrial buffalo hunting.

Researchers suggest that particularly large depictions of powerful beings may have served as a way of emphasising traditional knowledge, laws and people’s connection to the land during a period of upheaval.

But this remains an interpretation. Scientists can determine the sequence of the drawings, their style and their connection to the historical context, but they are unable to pinpoint the motive of any particular artist.

It would therefore be too categorical to claim that the giant snakes were painted specifically ‘as a sign of resistance to colonisation’.

Source

Study:“Paintings of Rainbow Serpents and other big creatures of Awunbarna, Northern Territory, Australia”.

Authors: Paul S. C. Taçon, Sally K. May, Andrea Jalandoni, Charlie Mungulda.