WA is home to what researchers argue could be the “the world’s earliest rock art” dating back to the ice age.

After a three year long project researchers have dated what may be the longest, most impressive rock art sequence anywhere in the world in the northwest Kimberley.

The art work could potentially challenge Western Europe as the location for the production of the world’s earliest rock art.

Lead author and Archaeologist from the University of New England, Dr June Ross says the new timeline for the beginning of rock art in Sulawesi in Indonesia around 39,000 years ago, together with evidence from excavations in the northwest Kimberley show that humans with sophisticated artistic skills settled along the northern coastline as early as 36,000 years ago.

“Our results demonstrate that at least some phases of Kimberley art are of great antiquity – and may date to a time when sea levels were lower, the continent was much larger and environmental conditions were more challenging – perhaps the oldest art is now submerged off the Kimberley coastline,” Dr Ross said.

The collaborative Australian Research Council project documented, analysed and dated more than 200 art sites across the Kimberley region, with a focus on the Lawley and Mitchell river basins.

Camera Icon WA is home to what researchers argue could be the “the world’s earliest rock art” dating back to the last ice age in WA's Kimberley. A yam-like motif discovery in the Kimberley Region. Credit: Supplied

Results from trialling different dating techniques confirmed the origin of the rock art was indeed ancient, providing evidence art was being painted just after the height of the last ice age.

Geochronologist Kira Westaway from Macquarie University said mud wasps stuck to many of the art motifs and became fossilised over time, creating a type of time capsule.

“They build nests on top of the art using grains of sand that can be used for dating without damaging the art itself,” she said.

“As long as we understand how the nests are constructed and how well they’re preserved over thousands of years, we can use the resulting age to confidently claim that the artist painted this image before the mud wasp constructed its nest.”

Among the art discoveries was a perfectly preserved yam-like motif painted in mulberry coloured ochre on the ceiling of a deep cavern, which had a minimum age estimate of more than 16,000 years.

“The oldest age we established during the project was not for a classic example of Gwion style rock art as we had hoped,” Dr Ross said.

Camera Icon Ancient rock art: An image of a kangaroo discovered in WA’s Kimberley Region. Credit: Supplied

Researchers from the University of New England, Macquarie University and the University of Wollongong and 20 Aboriginal community members from Kandiwal and Kalumburu collaborated for the project.

The late Albert Bundamarra said in 2012 the project had provided the opportunity for his family and other community members to reconnect with country and had given young people, like his son, Albert Jnr. an opportunity to visit sites for the first time, to learn old traditions and develop new skills.

Chair of the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation Cathy Goonack said the rock art brought visitors from all around Australia, and around the world, to the Mitchell Plateau.

“They want to look at our art and hear our stories; now we’ve got a good science story that we can tell people as well. We’ll also use this information to help us look after our art,” she said.