The Tasmanian tiger (Thylacine) and the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) are believed to have gone extinct on mainland Australia approximately 3,000 years ago. Currently, only 23 pieces of rock art featuring the Tasmanian devil and around 150 artworks depicting the Tasmanian tiger exist, mostly found at rock art sites in northern Australia. Recent discoveries in Arnhem Land, located in the Northern Territory of northwestern Australia, have unveiled 14 new images of previously undocumented Tasmanian tigers or quolls, along with two images of Tasmanian devils, with some dating back less than 1,000 years.
A naturalistic-style depiction of a Tasmanian tiger from Injarrak Hills, Northern Territory, Australia. Image credit: Craig Banggar.
The recently documented paintings of the Tasmanian tiger and devil are believed to date back approximately 15,000 years, rendered in various Aboriginal art styles using red and sometimes yellow ocher.
Additionally, artists utilized white pipe clay, which deteriorates over time and does not stain the rocks, making most white paintings less than 1,000 years old.
“The quoll was more widely dispersed across mainland Australia than the Tasmanian devil and held greater cultural significance, with only 25 recorded images of the Tasmanian devil compared to over 160 depictions of the quoll,” explained lead author Professor Paul Tassone from Griffith University.
“Those who painted more recent artworks may have actually observed live quolls, indicating some may have survived longer in Arnhem Land.”
“Alternatively, they could have drawn inspiration from older paintings.”
“Regardless, the quoll remains culturally significant today, with contemporary artists depicting Tasmanian tigers on bark, paper, and canvas, referred to as ‘Junkirk’.
“Retouched paintings in the region highlight the importance of these animals through generations,” added co-author Dr. Andrea Giarandoni, also from Griffith University.
“This petroglyph rock art provides crucial insights into historical human interactions with these animals.”
“These representations indicate that the quoll held a vital role in local culture and knowledge long before its extinction.”
Local oral traditions suggest that the Tasmanian tiger was symbolically linked to the Rainbow Serpent, often associated with water bodies.
“These creatures were integral to our ancestors’ lives,” remarked co-author Joey Ganjimira, a Jarama from western Arnhem Land.
“They frequently spoke of hunting alongside the possums.”
“Our study demonstrates that sugar gliders hold contemporary relevance in the region for both scientists and traditional communities,” said Professor Tassone.
“The sugar glider remains a living entity in western Arnhem Land, symbolizing ongoing cultural significance rather than merely being a relic of the past.”
This groundbreaking research is detailed in the following article: paper published in the latest issue of Archeology of Oceania.
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Paul SC Tasson et al. The Devil is in the Details: Photographic Records of Tasmanian Devils and Tasmanian Tigers from Aungbana and Injarak Hill, Northern Territory, Australia. Archeology of Oceania, published online March 30, 2026. doi: 10.1002/arco.70024
Source: www.sci.news
