Dr. Josephine Flood gave a most interesting and informative address at an afternoon tea organised by the AFGW Central West Branch on Sunday at Cowra Services Club.
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Jo has been studying Aboriginal Rock Art for the past forty years specialising in the stories and history they tell of the last 50,000 years.
Carbon dating has been a big advance and much help to archaeologists in recognising the time that events have taken place in Australia.
Our aboriginal culture is recognised as the oldest civilisation in the world and as such must be preserved and taught.
Jo completed her study at Cambridge and did her PhD on Aboriginal Rock Art, working in areas west of Katherine.
She emphasised that the rock art in the Kimberley is now known as Gwion Rock Arts.
Experts are still unsure of the story behind these paintings which are vastly different to the later paintings.
The story of the animals and the history ( including the first contact with white man) is depicted in many paintings - men on horses, sheep farming (which was unsuccessful) and larger mammals are all depicted in the rocks.
Jo’s address was indeed stimulating and she encouraged everyone to keep an eye out for anything that may be prehistoric and part of the Aboriginal cultural history.
Following her address Jo answered questions and spoke to the many people who attended while enjoying a delicious afternoon tea.
Proceeds from the afternoon will go to funding the Cowra Canowindra HSC Scholarship .
