Somehow the rows and the mystery seem inevitable – there are some absolutely gorgeous rock paintings in a remote, inaccessible part of Australia that might date back 60,000 years, and might be by a pre-Aboriginal people.
The Times Literary Supplement has sent Robin Hanbury-Tenison, whoever they might be, on the trail, and aside from showing an unfortunate line in gullibility — (“It teems with poisonous snakes and spiders, as well as crocodiles and mad wild bulls.” – no if they were “mad” they wouldn’t survive very long in the Bush ) — the writer provides a decent account of the controversy.
I don’t think the “cradle of global culture” makes much sense – it is indeed never really explained – presumably there would be some trail out, some signs of artistic influence, were that the case – but that doesn’t make the paintings and their possibilities any less exciting.
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