An Analysis of Motif Clusters at the Nanguluwurr Rock Art Site, Kakadu National Park, N. T. Australia

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dc.contributor.authorHayward, J.A.
dc.contributor.authorMay, S.K.
dc.contributor.authorGoldhahn, J.
dc.contributor.authorJalandoni, A.
dc.contributor.authorTaçon, P.S.C.
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractDuring recent detailed recording of Nanguluwurr, a rock art site that is part of the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) complex of cultural sites in Kakadu National Park, Australia, the data showed discrete clusters of specific motif types distributed throughout the length of the gallery. This paper focuses on the spatial distribution of the main motif clusters depicting spirit figures, material culture, fish, and painted hand and forearm motifs in order to understand the significance of these clusters within the site and the significance of Nanguluwurr as part of a wider complex of cultural sites. We consider the concept of these motif groupings as “meaning clusters,” as well as their chronological sequence, and discuss the possibility that they are the result of bursts of painting activity that occurred during the long history of the site manifest through depictions of ancient Dynamic Figures to the recent painting of X-ray fish.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityJohn A. Hayward, Sally K. May, Joakim Goldhahn, Andrea Jalandoni, and Paul S. C. Taçon
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Field Archaeology, 2021; 46(6):414-428
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/00934690.2021.1926698
dc.identifier.issn0093-4690
dc.identifier.issn2042-4582
dc.identifier.orcidMay, S.K. [0000-0003-2805-023X]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/134667
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInforma UK Limited
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL160100123
dc.rights© Trustees of Boston University 2021
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2021.1926698
dc.subjectrock art; Burrungkuy; Holocene; clustering; material culture; spirit figures; X-ray
dc.titleAn Analysis of Motif Clusters at the Nanguluwurr Rock Art Site, Kakadu National Park, N. T. Australia
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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