The Kimberley Region of North West Australia

Exploring the Australian Kimberley

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The Bradshaw painting pictured here proves that the people had Spear-Throwers as well as boomerangs. On the left a Wandjina rock art painting found on Bigge Island off the Australian coast of the Kimberley, appears to be a giant hand, although the white paint on the wrist has almost disappeared, traces of paint can still be seen. It could be associated with Yams. The crocodile is a Salt Water species. No Bradshaw rock art paintings were discovered on the Island during our 1992 visit. The painting (below left) shows how Bradshaw figures are often found depicted as groups of figures. To the right (below) a hand rock art painting which is much older, note the missing finger. The panel of Bradshaw Figures (bottom left), shows two rock art paintings that were either never finished, or only showed what was important to the artist. The Bradshaw paintings seem to have been followed with what Grahame Walsh called the Clawed Hand Period (bottom right).
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