We spent 5 days in and around the Calvert Ranges on our trek through the western deserts. The Calvert Ranges are situated about 40km east of the
Canning Stock Route between
Well 16 and
Well 17(Killigurra Gorge). I had read reports of the richness of
the rock art of the area and that moves were afoot to possibly restrict visitation in the near future and so we decided to go there this year.
The range is basically a smallish outcrop of tumbled ironstone on the north side, a small
water-bearing plateau and deep gorges on the south eastern side. There is a general
camping area marked on the Hema Maps and which can be a tad dusty and we managed to follow up
the gorge from there for about 100 metres and
camp alongside a small
water hole. There is a constant dribble of
water through two
water holes in
the gorge, as
well as two small trickling waterfalls.
The gorge was lush with grasses and had drinkable
water about 100 metres from
camp. At the top end of this gorge there was, what appeared to be a stagnant pool, and around this pool a number of white gums had grown. As they all fought for space in this cramped area, their branches have grown out and they rub together when even gentlest breeze blows. The result is a constant creaking and groaning of the limbs, like as if they were complaining about their lot.
I was lucky to meet up with another bloke who was interested in the various forms of rock art and he gave me several pointers of where to search for paintings, etchings and petroglyphs.
There are basically three major art sites which have tracks in to them and also some other sites further to the west through the Constance Headland hills and beyond. We visited as much as we could in our stay there and took no less than 700 photos of the various forms of art. There was much rock hopping and we struggled through the rocks and foliage to get to some of the sites, not being the most agile of people, using our walking sticks for support. We were pretty tired at the end of each day and fell into bed quite early after dark.
What we saw was basically three forms of rock art, those of paintings in white, yellow and red ochre, depicting all kinds of forms and squiggles, which of course, is open to interpretation. Then there were the etchings or peckings, which depicted emu feet, emu eggs, snakes, emu’s, kangaroos and turtles. Then we saw some amazing petroglyphs (rock carvings), deeply grooved into the stone and undoubtedly of a great age. The style was far superior to that of the etchings. I was fascinated by a very good petroglyphs of a Tasmanian Tiger, a family of beings, a face (not unlike a painted Maori face) and a body wrapped in cloth ready for burial. There was also a magnificent hand carving in which my hand fitted quite
well. I have seen many painted hand stencils, but never anything like this.
I have done a bit of reading of opinions by archaeologists such as Dr. Josephine Flood and others and from what I can ascertain no one really knows the age of these various forms of art and even tried and tested dating mechanisms such as Radio Carbon, Thermoluminescence or Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating cannot be sure of definitive answers. Some are as bold as to say 40,000 to 50,000 years but this leaves many questions to the inquisitive mind.
If you are interested in rock art, make an effort to go out there, and view this magnificent collection of ancient art.
Cheers