Summary: A clearly engraved site, featuring a detailed carving of an echidna and a very long line of mundoes (footprints).

On a large rock surface alongside West Head Road is a rock platform with over 80 motifs, most of them being mundoes (footprints), as well as an echidna, a number of fish and two shields. Many of the mundoes are quite weathered, but the fish are still quite distinct.

engraving EchidnaSite Echidna and Fish (West Head)

The echidna has 13 parallel curved stripes within the outline of the animal, a stylistic feature not common in the Sydney area.

AWAT1565 LR Echidna and Fish (West Head)

As well as the echidna, the other feature of the site is the long line of footprints (mundoes) – of which there are 75 in total.

Mundoes without highlighting Echidna and Fish (West Head)Mundoes with highlighting Echidna and Fish (West Head)

The mundoes lead away from a number of fish, which are of different shapes and sizes, and represent different species including a wobbegong shark.

It was suggested (McCarthy, Stanbury & Clegg) that the mundoes indicate a path to a good fishing place nearby, and may represent a mythological incident.

AWAT1576 LR Echidna and Fish (West Head)

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Aboriginal Sites by National Park

Over 40 sites have been recorded within the park; many were located along the river bank and were flooded by the building of the weir in 1938.