Along a tributary of Layburys Creek in the Canoelands area is an Aboriginal site with almost 300 axe grinding grooves. The quantity of grooves in a very small area and its relative proximity to the Hawkesbury River (Deerubbin) suggests that perhaps it was a “factory” – a site where suitable stones were transported via the Deerubbin to be made into axes.
Axe Grinding Grooves
The majority of the grooves are clustered around a large pothole in the middle of the creek.
Additional grooves are located around smaller potholes along the creek.
Shelters with Art
Near the axe grinding grooves are two shelters in close proximity, which both contain rock art. The first shelter is very shallow.
On the wall of the shelter are what appears to be two anthropomorphic figures in red ochre; both are very weathered and hard to see without image enhancement.
The adjacent shelter is much long and deeper, which contains a number of motifs.
The largest figure, in charcoal, is a wallaby or kangaroo, which has been speared.
There are at least ten handprints in white pigment – some clearly visible, and others less so.
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