Nourlangie Rock

Burrunggui (previously called Nourlangie Rock) is located in an outlying formation of the Arnhem Land Escarpment within the Kakadu National Park which is in the Northern Territory of Australia. It can be reached off the Kakadu Highway between Jabiru and Cooinda. The word Nourlangie derives from the Gundjeihmi language placename Nawurlandja which is actually the name of a smaller rock outcrop at the Anbangbang billabong.

Nourlangie Rock

Rock art at Nourlangie

There are a number of shelters in amongst this large outcrop linked by a 1.5km circular walk. The shelters contain several impressive paintings that deal with Aboriginal mythology. The full details of the stories connected to these artworks are known only to certain Aboriginal people but interpretive signage is present at the art sites to assist visitors in understanding these rock art treasures.

Anbangbang

The Anbangbang Shelter drawings are some of the most famous in the National Park. They were last worked upon in 1964 by Nayombolmi, a member of the Badmardi clan.

Aboriginal rock painting of Mimih spirits in Nourlangie's Anbangbang gallery.

Namondjok is the central figure of the upper part and is thought to have been guilty of incest. To the right sits Namarrgon, a lightning being who plays a central role in the creation legends. The white band that links his ankles, head and hands is a lightning bolt. He also causes thunder by hitting clouds with an axe.

Underneath is Namarrgon's wife Barrginj. Together they produced Leichhardt's grasshopper (Petasida ephippigera) Al-yurr, a species of blue and orange grasshopper which in Aboriginal mythology are believed to be the lightning spirit's children. This belief is based on their annual appearance in November (or Gurrung season in Gundjeihmi language), which is the season of lightning that builds up to the annual north Australian monsoons.

Nangawulurr

Nangawulurr Shelter (formerly spelled Nangaloar) is located on the western side of Nourlangie Rock and can be reached via a 3.4km walk which leads through a swamp to the west of Nourlangie. It features drawings of Namarnde spirits, hand stencils, animals in the aboriginal x-ray style and contact art (such as a drawing of a European sailing ship).

Nangawulurr was an important aboriginal camping site of the Warramal clan, located on a main route which leads to the South Alligator floodplain.

References

Park Notes about Nangaloar and the Walk to the Art Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1986

See also

• Kakadu National Park
• Plants Kakadu National Park
• Protected areas of the Northern Territory (Australia)
• Kakadu plum
• Indigenous Australians´

External links

• Aboriginal Art Lear more about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu
• Google Map Map of Kakadu National Park including art sites

Coordinates: 12°51′42″S 132°48′45″E / 12.86167°S 132.8125°E / -12.86167; 132.8125