'Two Ways to See', A Rock Art Research Journey

Rock art is a significant archive of our rich cultural heritage and helps us understand our Australian history. 

Please join Ian Waina and Prof. Andy Gleadow as they share how traditional owners and scientists have worked together over the last decade to determine the age of rock art sites on Kwini and Balanggarra Country in the East Kimberley.

“When I was still at school, I started taking people to visit the rock art sites. The big question the tourists would ask was how old is the rock art? To tell the truth I didn’t know. I would answer them with ‘Its older than me and you’. I really wanted to find the answer to that question.” – Ian Waina.

"We knew from the outset that dating rock was a very hard thing to do because it is mostly not possible to date the pigments and other materials used to make the paintings. Instead, we needed to develop new methods and modify existing ones to find out the age of natural events that happened on the rock surface." - Prof. Andy Gleadow.

This lecture will share personal stories and research findings which reveal the age of Australia's oldest known painting in a rock shelter.

Access information

The venue is fully accessible. Please contact reception@museum.wa.gov.au or call 1300 134 081 a minimum of five working days before the event if you are attending and would like the organisers to arrange Auslan interpretation.

More information is available on access to and within the Museum, plus how to prepare for your visit here.