Bradshaw Rock Paintings

Bradshaw Rock Paintings

Bradshaw rock paintings, Bradshaw rock art, Bradshaw figures or The Bradshaws, are terms used to describe one of the two major regional traditions of rock art found in the north-west Kimberley region of Western Australia. The identity of who painted these figures and the age of the art is a contentious theme in archaeology and amongst Australian rock art researchers, and has been since they were first discovered and recorded by pastoralist Joseph Bradshaw in 1891 after whom they were named. As the Kimberley is home to various different Aboriginal language groups, the rock art is referred to and known by many different Aboriginal names, the most common of which are Gwion Gwion or Giro Giro. The art consists primarily of human figures ornamented with accessories such as bags, tassels and headdresse.