Petroglyphs that Have Become Extinct: Rock-Art of Makau

Abstract

The article represents petroglyphs of Macau (Aomen). This site with engravings was lost and gone forever (because of industrial pollution), but we have some copies and descriptions of it. Though it was quiet restricted in dimensions, but contained not only interlacement of lines and geometric figures, but also images of two big boats as well, with quiet developed construction: with upper deck, long bowsprit and, possibly, with portable mast. The same ships but engraved more clearly one can see in petroglyphs of Zhuhai at the site with rock-art closest to Macau. These ships seem to have some additional details such as side ports, helm and anchor. These observations confirm a high level in shipbuilding and navigation among peoples of Wu and Yue kingdoms known to us due to historical records. For petroglyphs of Eastern and Southern China we have another figurative line in order to compare with, i. e. engravings on bronze implements and, first of all, bronze drums. The war-boats engraved on drums have some similarities in con-struction with boats engraved on rocky surface. Due to these resemblance petroglyphs of Macau (and Zhuhai) could be attributed to Dongson-Dian civilization because bronze drums served as indicator for this super unity. On the basis of this resemblance we can previously date petroglyphs of Macau with the last ages BC or the first ages AD. The crea-tors of rock-art galleries in the region of Zhujiang River estuary were very probably connected with migration of one of the Boyue tribes.