Researchers, in collaboration with First Nations Australians, have uncovered centuries-old carvings on twelve boab trees in Australia’s Tanami Desert after two years of fieldwork. These findings shed new light on Indigenous Australian art and cultural heritage, adding to the already rich tapestry of rock art the region is known for. The carvings, first documented in the mid-19th century but only recently studied in depth, feature a variety of motifs, including depictions of the King Brown Snake, a significant figure in Indigenous oral traditions, alongside geometric patterns and other animal representations. The team’s research is published in the journal Antiquity.
Boab Trees: Ancient Canvases
Boab trees (Adansonia gregorii), also known as bottle trees due to their thick, often squat trunks, can live for over 1,000 years, based on the dating of related baobab species in South Africa. Unlike many trees, boabs lack distinct growth rings, making precise dating challenging. Radiocarbon dating is necessary to determine their age accurately, rather than traditional dendrochronological methods. This makes determining the exact age of the carvings difficult, but their presence on such ancient trees speaks to their historical significance.
Snake glyphs on the boab trees.King Brown Snake glyphs carved into the bark of a boab tree. Photo: D. Lewis (O’ Connor et al., Antiquity 2022)
A Race Against Time
The delicate nature of boab trees poses a threat to the carvings’ preservation. “Unlike most Australian trees, the inner wood of boabs is soft and fibrous and when the trees die, they just collapse,” explains Sue O’Connor, an archaeologist at the Australian National University. This vulnerability underscores the urgency of documenting these ancient artworks. “Sadly, after lasting centuries if not millennia, this incredible artwork, which is equally as significant as the rock art Indigenous Australians are famous for, is now in danger of being lost,” O’Connor adds.
Cultural Significance and Uses
Boab trees hold significant cultural and practical value for First Nations Australians. The pith, seeds, and roots are edible, and various parts of the tree have medicinal properties. The relatively smooth bark provides an ideal canvas for the carvings, which are clearly visible. The research team aims to date the Australian boabs directly to estimate the age of the carvings. While only twelve carved boabs were identified in this recent fieldwork, prior research documented 22 carved trees.
Threats to Preservation
Older boabs often develop hollow trunks, increasing their susceptibility to collapse. The recent deaths of some of the largest baobabs, a closely related species, have been linked to climate change. This adds another layer of urgency to the effort to document these carvings. “We are in a race against time to document this invaluable cultural heritage,” emphasizes Brenda Garstone, a Traditional Owner collaborating with the research team.
Diverse Artistic Expressions
Beyond the snake dendroglyphs, the researchers discovered carvings of emu and kangaroo tracks, a lizard-like figure, and various geometric markings. First Nations stone artifacts were also found around some of the larger boabs. Aerial imagery revealed hundreds more boabs in the surrounding Tanami region, which the team plans to survey for additional carvings. This ongoing research promises to further illuminate the rich artistic traditions of Indigenous Australians.
Conclusion
The discovery of these centuries-old carvings on Australian boab trees provides valuable insights into Indigenous Australian history and artistic expression. The collaboration between researchers and First Nations Australians is crucial in preserving this fragile cultural heritage before it’s lost to time and the elements. The research team’s ongoing efforts to document and date these carvings will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our understanding of Australia’s rich Indigenous past.
