A fragment of a charcoal drawing found in the Northern Territory
has been carbon-dated by a New Zealand laboratory to 28,000
years ago, making it Australia's oldest known rock art specimen.
A specialist team led by Dr Fiona Petchey, based at the
University of Waikato radiocarbon laboratory, pinpointed the age
of the drawing, one of the earliest examples of human art on the
planet. Previously, Australia's oldest known art was the
"Bradshaw" figurative paintings found in the Kimberley region,
dated to 16,000-17,000 years ago. The fragment was discovered
60cm underground by Professor Bryce Barker, a University of
Southern Queensland archaeologist originally from Kerikeri, who
said it showed that - contrary to popular perception -
Aborigines of that era were far from primitive. When added to
their use of stone tools and watercraft, "you're looking at some
of the major first developments in modern human behaviour, and
it's all happening here in Australia", he told the Herald.
Professor Barker found the granite fra