Australian Rock Art: A New Synthesis [Hardcover]

Robert Layton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521346665 | ISBN-13: 978-0521346665 | Publication Date: November 27, 1992 | Edition: First Edition

The origins of rock art in Australia are probably as old as that of the hunter-gatherers of Western Europe, well-known for the prehistoric caves of Altamira and Lascaux. That the practice of painting and engraving on rocks continues in parts of northern and central Australia emphasises the importance of this art as a source of visual information for Australia's indigenous communities, Rock art can be 'read' to determine cultural processes and provides a durable record of thousands of years of cultural change. This book is an extensive survey of Australian rock art, presenting detailed case studies revealing the significance of both recent and ancient art for Australia's living indigenous communities. Archaeological data provides evidence of the ways in which rock art traditions have changed over 15,000 or more years in response to changes in the environment, the development of new forms of social organisation and the impact of European colonial settlement.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

A survey of Australian rock art, presenting detailed case studies revealing the significance of both recent and ancient art for Australia's living indigenous communities.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; First Edition edition (November 27, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521346665
• ISBN-13: 978-0521346665
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,906,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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