Grave fears held for thousands of rock art sites after bushfires lay bare irrevocable damage

Warnings come after discovery of fire-ravaged Anaiwan panel on property in northern NSW that is at least 500 years old

An important rock art site in northern New South Wales has been discovered after being irretrievably damaged by bushfire, with grave fears held for thousands of other sites.

Some of the art at the site, which is on private property west of Armidale on the NSW northern tablelands, was known but had not been fully documented. Fire also destroyed a nearby site which had not been documented. The art is thought to be at least 500 years old.