Buhrich, Alice (2025) Dendroglyphs, Pictographs and Social Identity in the Wet Tropics Rainforest of Northeastern Australia. Archeology in Oceania. e2200237. (In Press)

Preview

PDF (Accepted Publisher Version) - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

TThis research examines rock art and dendroglyphs in the Wet Tropics of northeast Australia to investigate their relationship to linguistic social identity. The region was selected for its complex socio-cultural landscape, marked by a diversity of languages in a distinct, relatively small area. The study was co-designed with nine First Nations partner organisations representing five language groups and employed rock art methodologies and interviews with First Nation knowledge holders. Findings reveal that neither rock art nor dendroglyph motifs correspond neatly with linguistic boundaries. Within a single language area, stylistic variations were observed—rock art is more figurative in the east and abstract in the west, while dendroglyphs, found only in the eastern Wet Tropics, feature predominantly abstract designs. Rather than signifying socio-cultural differences, the dendroglyphs and rock art illustrate connections. Senior custodians identify dendroglyphs as story places, clan symbols, and sites of cultural significance, reflecting a deep and enduring relationship by First Nations with these rare cultural expressions. This study contributes new insights into dendroglyphs and rock art in Queensland's Wet Tropics rainforests, challenging assumptions that stylistic boundaries align strictly with language groups and significantly broadening knowledge of Australian dendroglyphs.

Item ID:	85832
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	0003-8121
Keywords:	aboriginal heritage; carved trees; dendroglyphs; rainforest archaeology; rock art; wet tropics
Copyright Information:	© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. Archaeology in Oceania published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of University of Sydney.
Date Deposited:	16 Jun 2025 22:51
FoR Codes:	45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4501 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history > 450103 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural history @ 40% 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4501 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history > 450108 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander linguistics and languages @ 20% 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4505 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, society and community > 450507 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-based research @ 40%
SEO Codes:	13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1307 Understanding past societies > 130703 Understanding Australia’s past @ 30% 21 INDIGENOUS > 2104 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and culture > 210402 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connection to land and environment @ 50% 21 INDIGENOUS > 2104 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and culture > 210404 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge @ 20%
Downloads:	Total: 1 Last 12 Months: 1
	More Statistics