Hungry Trig engravings

Summary: The Hungry Trig engravings are on a small rock platform below a low cliff, surrounded by dense bush. The site has many figures including 12 ovals and three decorated men.

Located on a small rock platform below a low cliff and surrounded by dense bush are the Hungry Trig engravings: “The surface of rock is nearly all covered by the figures, and in the middle of the group is a whale; within its outline is a circular figure, and adjacent to it are twelve others” (W.D. Campbell).

Sketch of Hungry Trig engraving site

Scattered around the site are twelve ovals – Campbell suggested that these may be fragments of squid eaten by the whale.

Ovals at Hungry Trig engraving siteIMG 4704 LR highlighted Hungry Trig engravings
IMG 4723 LR Hungry Trig engravingsIMG 4723 LR highlighted Hungry Trig engravings

There are three decorated male figures around the site: two are in close proximity: one of them has a design on his chest with concave sides (the other man has four pendant strands suspended across his chest).

Decorated male figure at Hungry Trig engraving siteIMG 4709 Pano LR highlighted Hungry Trig engravings

 Behind the whale is a leaping kangaroo.

Leaping kangaroo at Hungry Trig engraving site

The site was interpreted by McCarthy as being a ritual composition, the decorated men being associated with the whale and kangaroo – “probably a totemic or mythological ceremony; the running man is unique among the engravings, as is the pointed and fringed figure“. Campbell also suggested that the hill near which the Hungry Trig engraving site is located may have been of strategic importance as being the easiest approach to Smiths Creek, and a frequented track from Cowan Creek to Narrabeen.

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1 Comment

Trig Bagging at Cottage Point | Hiking the World · August 23, 2021 at 5:49 pm

[…] later find the description of the Hungry Trig engraving site and an illustration of the site by W. D. Campbell in 1899: “The surface of rock is nearly all […]

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