Lyre Trig Shark

Summary: An interesting Aboriginal engraving site which has 14 figures, including a marine creature (which could be a shark), a snake and an indeterminate animal. It's one of a series of eleven sites documented by Ian Sim near the Lyre Trig.

Number of motifs: 14
Motif/s: Bird, Indeterminate figure, Mundoe (foot), Oval, Shark, Snake
Quality: 4/5
Condition of art: Good
View site sketch
Year first recorded: 1969
Originally Recorded by: F.D. McCarthy, Ian Sim
McCarthy reference: PATONGA Group 166 S4 in Catalogue of Rock Engravings (1983)
Sim Reference: Mankind 7(1) 1969 Sheet 1 Fig F (Series 4, p.54)

One of the more complex Aboriginal engraving sites below the Lyre Trig, with 14 figures documented by Ian Sim. The main engraving is of a shark, although it was later described as a “marine creature” and possibly a dolphin by McCarthy. There is a spear in the back of the creature, and two oval figures next to it.

The shark or marine creature has a broad conical head, with a pair of conical fins near its head. Above the figure is a flying bird.

Within the figure is an oval and two mundoes.

Below the shark / marine creature is a snake, with “pointed ends curved outward in opposite directions”.

Below the snake is another unusual engraving, documented as an indeterminate figure by McCarthy. It was described as having two ovals (which could be fins or flippers) attached to the junction of its body and tail, and a long elongated body.