Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

Summary: An Aboriginal engraving site in Strickland State Forest, which feaures a large Daramulan figure.

  • Site type: Rock engraving
  • Number of motifs: 12
  • Motif/s: Anthropomorph, Daramulan, Echidna, Fish, Indeterminate figure, Kangaroo - Speared, Koala, Mundoe (foot)
  • Quality: 3/5
  • Condition of site: Good
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1945
  • Originally Recorded by: Ian Sim
  • Sim Reference: Sim Collection 2/61
  • Ian Sim, Archaelogical SItes in the Sydney Region – A Record of Field Surveys 1958-1973 (“Sim Collection”), Site 2/61
  • J.C. Lough, Freeway No. 3 (Mt White to Ourimbah) Archaeological Survey, January 1980. Site 256.

An Aboriginal rock engraving site which seems significant, but was not documented in any detail by the early Australian Aboriginal anthropologists. Near the centre of the rock platform is an enormous Daramulan figure.

AWAT9317 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

The figure has a rayed head-dress, and two bands of horizontal lines across its upper body.

AWAT9267 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site
AWAT9295 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

There are two kangaroos, one of which has been speared.

AWAT9252 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site
AWAT9286 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

Two echidnas are engraved in the sandstone.

AWAT9284 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

There are two koalas (the term “koala” can refer to a Daramulan figure, but in this case appears to refer to a “koala bear”, the term more commonly used to describe the native animal).

AWAT9278 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site
AWAT9294 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

Five mundoes (footprints) cross the site; two pairs and and an individual one (some of them are very weathered).

AWAT9258 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site
AWAT9274 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

There are also a few indeterminate figures, and part of a fish.

AWAT9263 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site
AWAT9264 LR Dog Trap Gully Engraving Site

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