Arden Trig Station engravings

Fred MCarthy documented a series of Aboriginal engraving sites along a “crescentic ridge of rock” which extends for about 400m, which he collectively referred to as the “Arden Trig Station” group. Some of these had earlier been documented by W.D. Campbell, who (according to McCarthy) “recorded what he apparently selected as the most interesting figures at this site, and ignored the remainder”.

Man and Wife

standing next to each other: the man is 6' tall with a sword club across his waist while the woman is 4' tall.

Pair of Men

Two men, described as a "pair of unusual figures". Both are wearing girdles, one has arm-bands and the penis on both figures is pointing upwards

Echidnas

A pair of male and female echidnas in file.

Wallaby

A leaping wallaby in the middle of the platform, which is very weathered.

Shield and Boomerang

A clearly defined shield with line design and dotted decoration all over its surface, and a (returning) boomerang.

Man

A man in an "active pose"

Fish

Bream-like fish (above man)

Axe Grinding Grooves

Six parallel axe grinding grooves

Hooked Fish

A bream-like fish, with a long, conical head, and a hook inside its body.

Sword Club

Sword Club

Fish

A fish with a long, pointed head.

Posterior of Fish

Club

Pothole

One of two potholes with a grooved channel, which match the description.

Series 1 (Fig 8A) – Club and Fish

A sword club and fish; these two figures have not yet been re-located. The rock platform where they are located has vegetation encroaching from all sides, as well as from a large waterhole in the middle. It is likely that these two figures are been covered by moss.

Series 2 (Fig 8B) – Club and AGGs

A small site in the middle of a long rock platform, which has six axe grinding grooves (AGGs) next to a waterhole. Nearby are engravings of a club, the posterior part of an echidna and the tail end of a fish.

Series 3 (Fig 8C) – Man and Fish

A group of figures representing a man with fish which are his totem (or which he hopes to catch). In this group there are a total of five fish (some hidden under leaf litter) as well as the man, an incomplete figure and and indeterminate elongate figure.

Series 4 (Fig 8D) – Pothole, Shield and Fish

A pothole with a “line engraved around three sides” was doccumented; there are two waterholes that both feature a channel around them, on a long and steep ledge.

A shield and “poorly shaped fish” engraving are a bit further along the ledge (but covered by vegetation), and there are also two axe grinding grooves not mentioned by McCarthy.

Series 5 (Fig 8E) – Men

Two men, described as a “pair of unusual figures”. Both are wearing girdles, one has arm-bands and the penis on both figures is pointing upwards

Series 6 (Fig 8F) – Man and Wife

A man and wife standing next to each other: the man is 6′ tall with a sword club across his waist while the woman is 4′ tall.

Series 7 (Fig 8G) – Sword Club and Fish

A sword club, and a fish, which has a long, pointed head.

Series 8 (Fig 8H) – Echidnas and Roo

A pair of male and female echidnas in file. Near the echidnas is a very weathered wallaby or kangaroo.

Series 9 (Fig 8I) – Hooked Fish

A bream-like fish, with a long, conical head – and a hook inside its body.

Series 10 (Fig 8J) – Shield and Boomerang

A clearly defined shield with line design and dotted decoration all over its surface, and a (returning) boomerang.

Series 11 (Fig 8K) – Sword Club

A sword club, which has not been re-located.

Summary of Arden Trig Aboriginal engraving sites