The identification of extinct megafauna in rock art using geometric morphometrics: a Genyornis newtoni painting in Arnhem Land, northern Australia?
Article
Article Title | The identification of extinct megafauna in rock art using geometric morphometrics: a Genyornis newtoni painting in Arnhem Land, northern Australia? |
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ERA Journal ID | 1739 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Cobden, Rommy (Author), Clarkson, Chris (Author), Price, Gilbert J. (Author), David, Bruno (Author), Geneste, Jean-Michel (Author), Delannoy, Jean-Jacques (Author), Barker, Bryce (Author), Lamb, Lara (Author) and Gunn, Robert G. (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Archaeological Science |
Journal Citation | 87, pp. 95-107 |
Number of Pages | 13 |
Year | 2017 |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 0305-4403 |
1095-9238 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2017.09.013 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440317301449?via%3Dihub |
Abstract | Identifying extinct fauna in rock art is a common but difficult exercise. Here we use geometric morphometric analysis of shape to examine the oft-cited painting from Arnhem Land attributed by Gunn et al. to the long-extinct species Genyornis newtoni. We compare the shape of key anatomical features in this painting to anatomical depictions of Genyornis as well as to two other possible candidates - the emu and the magpie goose. Comparisons are also made to rock art depictions of these birds from northern Australia. We find that while the so-called ‘Genyornis’ painting does more closely resemble anatomical depictions of Genyornis than any other bird examined, all rock art images overlap in shape to such a degree that confident assignment of this image to any avian species is problematic. |
Keywords | rock art; geometric morphometrics; shape analysis; Genyornis painting; Arnhem Land |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 450101. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander archaeology |
430101. Archaeological science | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Queensland |
Monash University | |
University of Bordeaux, France | |
Savoy Mont-Blanc University, France | |
School of Arts and Communication | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4726/the-identification-of-extinct-megafauna-in-rock-art-using-geometric-morphometrics-a-genyornis-newtoni-painting-in-arnhem-land-northern-australia
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