Thousands of years ago Aboriginal Australians etched their stories onto Sydney’s sandstone. These are the Sydney rock engravings. We stand before a testament to a culture far older than written history. These aren’t just random scratches. They’re carefully crafted images. They depict people animals and symbols.
The engravings tell of the Guringai people. They lived in this region for tens of thousands of years. They used simple tools. They chipped away at the soft sandstone. They created U-shaped grooves. These grooves are distinct from natural formations. They are easily distinguished from modern carvings.
The process was meticulous. First a sketch. Then holes drilled along the lines. Finally smoothing with a sharp stone. The depth and width of each groove is about two centimeters.
These weren’t just decorative. Some sites were increase sites. Ceremonies were held there. The goal was to ensure plentiful food like kangaroos or fish. Other sites mark initiation ceremonies. These passages from boyhood to manhood are marked by lines of footsteps. Mundoes these lines are called. Still others depict culture heroes and ancestral beings. Baiame for example had a striped headdress. Daramulan had a large club foot.
The engravings are not easily dated. They were re-grooved during ceremonies. This makes dating difficult. Some depictions show animals extinct in the Sydney region for millennia. Thylacines for example. This suggests the engravings are incredibly old. However there is no definitive proof.
The sites are sacred. Many locations are kept secret. This protects them from damage and vandalism. It preserves their spiritual significance. We are fortunate to be here today.
Look closely. You might see emus kangaroos or fish. You might see human figures. You might see boomerangs or shields. These are glimpses into a rich and complex culture. A culture that thrived here for millennia. A culture that continues to thrive. These Sydney rock engravings connect us to a past. A past that is both ancient and vibrant. A past that continues to inspire.