I have been again surprised by Indonesia. I did not know that ancient rock art was so common. We have found a number of locations close to our anchorage near Darfat Peak where panels of rock art have been painted on cliffs facing the ocean.

Against the cliffs and overhangs amongst the labyrinth of islands that surround us in the north chain of Misool islands, we are finding rock art in the style of the Aboriginal art that we have previously seen in northern Australia.

The art appears to be made with red ochre, although we have not found any such clay like soils in Raja Ampat. It appears that these materials for the art must have been brought in from elsewhere.

The sites have been protected from close contact with barriers, but there are indications that the paintings are not fully authentic. For example, in one location we observed old red ochre paintings that had been overcoated with white deposits by the calcium rich runoff of rainwater down the cliff, and then what are obviously new paintings over the top of white deposits. A quick search of the internet indicates that there has been little research has been conducted into the origin of this art, and whether it is another indication of the close relationship between Australian Aborigines and the people of Indonesia. Most of the reported research into rock art relate to Sulawesi, further to the North West.