Gabarnmung

Gabarnmung, or Nawarla Gabarnmung, is an Aboriginal archaeological and rock art site in south-western Arnhem Land, in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory. The meaning of the name is "hole in the rock", "passageway", or "valley open from the centre". It lies at a remote and secret location on the traditional lands of the Jawoyn people, east of Kakadu National Park. The only way to access the site is by helicopter. The rock shelter was rediscovered in 2006 during a helicopter survey of the land by the Jawoyn Association's Ray Whear and pilot Chris Morgan. It features prehistoric paintings of fish, including the barramundi, wallabies, crocodiles, people and spiritual figures. Most of the paintings are located on the shelter's ceiling, but many are found on walls and pillars dotted around the site.^[1] The first archaeological dig to take place on Jawoyn country was held at Gabarnmung in May 2010. Led by Monash University archaeologist Dr Bruno David, the team includes France's foremost rock art specialists archaeologist Professor Jean-Michel Geneste and geomorphologist Professor Jean-Jacques Delanoy. Prior to the dig, rock art specialist Robert Gunn conducted extensive research on the gallery's paintings.^[2] A fragment of a ground-edge stone axe found by the international archaeological team has been dated at 35,500 years old, which makes it the oldest of its type known in the world.^[3] The shelter is the subject of an independent documentary being produced by Australian journalist and filmmaker Emma Masters and Canadian artist and filmmaker Adrian Buitenhuis.

References

Notes

1. ^ Masters (2009-10-05).
2. ^ Masters (2010-05-28)
3. ^ Masters (2010-11-05).

Sources

• Masters, Emma (2010-11-05). "Oldest known stone axe found in Arnhem Land". ABC Science. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/11/05/3057991.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 
• Masters, Emma (2010-11-05). "Ancient Artefacts". ABC Stateline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/11/05/3058831.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-29. 
• Masters, Emma (2010-05-28). "Digging up Rock Art History". ABC Stateline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/05/28/2912636.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-29. 
• Masters, Emma (2009-10-05). "Treasure-trove of Aboriginal rock art rediscovered". ABC Stateline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/10/05/2704827.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 
• "Gabarnmung". Living Black. 2010-09-26. http://news.sbs.com.au/livingblack/gabarnmung_564901. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 
• "Rock art rediscovered within Jawoyn land". Katherine Times. 2010-09-29. http://www.archaeologydaily.com/news/201009295197/Rock-art-rediscovered-within-Jawoyn-land.html. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 

External links

• Ancient artefacts from ABC Stateline
• Digging up Rock Art History from ABC Stateline
• Treasure trove of Aboriginal Rock Art Discovered from ABC Stateline
• Video of Gabarnmung from Living Black

Coordinates: 12°10′07″S 133°50′01″E / 12.1685°S 133.833520°E / -12.1685; 133.833520