The theory emerged in the 1968 book Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past, which was written by Swiss author Erich von Daniken, and detailed examples of ancient civilisations that could be evidence of alien life form.ĭonaldson said the theory never gained much traction. The misunderstanding fuelled theories Asiatic or Middle Eastern people at one time occupied the Australian continent, and set the scene for an even more offensive proposition - that the Wandjina were drawings of aliens that visited prior to white settlement. Pictures fuel Australian 'alien' landing theory "But it wasn't anything of the sort, it was an older painting showing through, where the painting was wearing away a bit," he said. He said one of the figures appeared to be wearing a full gown, and what Grey interpreted as writing on the headband, which people thought could be Arabic or Chinese. "They thought they must have been done by shipwrecked sailors, or some other culture of people that visited here." "They thought they could not have been done by Aboriginal people. "They were totally unlike anything that people had reported from Aboriginal rock art in Australia before," Donaldson said. It was thought a large, inland sea might exist in central Australia, and the British government and the Royal Geographical Society sponsored Grey and his team to explore what is now the Kimberley region. In 1837, explorer George Grey embarked on a bold but misguided mission to penetrate north-western Australia. British explorer seeking 'inland sea' stumbles upon artwork "The Wandjina is not just a big picture on the wall, it's the trees, it's the rocks, it's the water, it's the seasons, it's everything … it lets us Wandjina people know who we are, and how to live our life."īut the history of white contact with the Wandjina is marred by misunderstanding and wild theories that remain deeply hurtful to the Worrora, Ngarinyin and Wununbul tribes to this day. "The Wandjina is a supreme being that created the country, gave us the laws of the land, and we have to obey and follow it," she said. Worrora woman Leah Umbagai said they were considered sacred by three tribes in the area. The large, looming Wandjina are spirit figures drawn on thousands of cliffs and cave walls in the Western Kimberley, and came to national prominence when they featured in the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony. Aboriginal families in Western Australia's north are finding ways to reclaim a sacred image that sparked rumours of Arab voyages and aliens during the early days of British exploration.
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