In Didj'n'Us

22/08/2025

The ancient rock paintings of Australia’s Kimberley region, particularly those of the Gwion Gwion and Wandjina traditions, represent one of the oldest continuous artistic legacies on Earth. Some of these artworks date back tens of thousands of years, offering a direct link to the spiritual and cultural expressions of Australia’s First Peoples. These works are not only artistic achievements but also enduring cultural records, connecting generations through imagery, symbolism, and storytelling.

One striking example depicts a radiant figure painted in red ochre, with an elongated body, outstretched arms, and a circular head surrounded by concentric rings. This “halo” effect, with rays projecting outward, conveys both human and divine qualities. Surrounding figures, shown in dynamic poses, may represent ancestral beings, dancers, or spiritual presences. Painted with natural pigments on sandstone, these images have survived across millennia despite exposure to weather and time.

Beyond their visual power, the Gwion Gwion and Wandjina artworks embody the spiritual worldview of Aboriginal communities. They are deeply tied to the Dreamtime, the timeless reality that shapes creation, land, and life. The paintings are more than decoration they are sacred dialogues between people, ancestors, and the land itself. Gazing upon them today, one senses their dual nature: both ancient and immediate, preserving voices and visions that still resonate across the ages.

21/08/2025

13/08/2025

13/08/2025

High in the Blue Mountains of Australia, archaeologists have uncovered a groundbreaking piece of human history. The Dargan Shelter, situated at an impressive 1,073 meters above sea level, is now recognised as the highest known Ice Age-era human occupation site in the country. This ancient cave, dating back some 20,000 years, provides compelling evidence of early human resilience and adaptability in environments once thought too harsh to support life.

Inside the cave, researchers found 693 stone artifacts along with ancient hearths, clear signs that First Nations ancestors repeatedly inhabited this cold, treeless landscape. During the Ice Age, this region would have been seasonally frozen and largely barren, a far cry from the forested environment we see today. The discovery at Dargan Shelter challenges long-held assumptions about early human settlement patterns in Australia and highlights the ingenuity of these early inhabitants in adapting to glacial and high-altitude conditions.

This site opens a new window into the lives of Ice Age humans in Australia, showing that they were not only surviving but thriving in extreme environments through innovation and resourcefulness. Their ability to repeatedly occupy such a challenging place speaks to a deep understanding of their environment and sophisticated survival strategies. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that early Australians were highly skilled at exploiting diverse landscapes, far beyond the more temperate lowlands.

A strange yet fascinating fact about this site is that, despite the cold and barren surroundings, the early occupants managed to sustain themselves with resources available at high altitude, suggesting sophisticated knowledge of local flora and fauna that modern science is still uncovering.

To learn more about incredible discoveries from our prehistoric past, follow The PreHistoric World and share this post. Celebrate the stories of human endurance and the remarkable journey of our ancestors.

13/08/2025

The young Jimmy Little!

13/08/2025

Emily Kame Kngwarreye in 1994 [Photo: Greg Weight/National Museum of Australia]

The Tate Modern in London is currently hosting a landmark exhibition celebrating the art of Emily Kame Kngwarreye (c. 1914–1996), recognised as one of Australia’s most significant visual artists of the late 20th century. The retrospective, running from July 10 to January 11, 2026, features 70 pieces—from her early batik designs and her first canvas in 1988 to her final works in 1996.

The show, the first major solo exhibition of her work in Europe, was organised in close collaboration with the National Gallery of Australia, the Utopia Art Centre, and Kngwarreye’s descendants. It offers insight into her unique artistic vision, inspired by her profound connection to her ancestral country and culture.

Read more: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/08/08/mdze-a08.html

13/08/2025

Natty Dolaiasi

CULTURES CONNECT AT DREAMCAST THEATRE | Local artist Natty Dolaiasi called a recent cultural exchange between Solomon Islands and Australian artists “a story worth telling.” Held at Dreamcast Theatre in Honiara on August 9, the event brought together Ngarluma artists from Australia and local performers for a three-day celebration of shared culture. Through music, dance, and storytelling, the exchange showed the deep connections between the two cultures — from fishing traditions to ancient songs. Dolaiasi said it was not just a performance, but a powerful way to share identity, history, and unity across communities.

Read More Here: https://tourism.islesmedia.net/cultures-connect-through-art-at-dreamcast-theatre/

13/08/2025

A remote NT school scoops national music awards with songs in Indigenous languages, keeping Dreamtime creation stories alive.

13/08/2025