Cowan Track Bandicoot

Summary: Above Cowan Creek a small and remote site with a carving of a striped bandicoot, and two spirit figures.

On a a remote spur above Cowan Creek is a small rock platform with an Aboriginal engraving of what is most likely a bandicoot. It looks like a numbat (from its stripes and stance), but numbats were only found in the north-west of NSW. It’s been suggested that “it’s more likely to be a banded bandicoot (not extinct from the area) or a bandicoot-type animal with totemic barring. It’s remarkably well preserved” (Steve Chapple).

Numbat on spur above Cowan Creek

There’s two adjacent engravings, which were partially covered. They depict a female figure and a male spirit figure: the enhanced image below shows the full detail of this amazing site (photo from Rock Art of the Sydney Basin).

Two deities at Cowan Creek site, next to numbat
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2 Comments

Johnh · May 19, 2024 at 7:41 pm

I came across this bandicoot today while exploring the spur down to the water. Fantastic site with a natural rock pool and really distinct tool grindings just nearby too.

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Donna · September 7, 2024 at 9:11 pm

We came across the Bandicoot today as well as several other engravings on the same platform. An amazing site that included a kangaroo, boomerang, and 3 other figures in addition to the ones mentioned above.

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