Nourlangie

Nourlangie Rock in Kakadu National Park

Nourlangie is a rock massif and is located in the Arnhem Land within the Kakadu National Park in northern Australia . It can be reached via the Kakadu Highway between Jabiru and Cooinda. It is characterized by its famous Aboriginal rock paintings, which can be viewed on a 1.5 km hike. The original name of this area was Burrunguy. Nourlangie is derived from the term Nawurlandja, a name that does not refer to the Nourlangie Rock, but to the smaller rock that towers over Anbangbang Billabong .

The rock art found there is estimated to be 20,000 years old. This is how long this area is considered to be inhabited by the Aboriginal people. Since people lived here until a few decades ago, these rocks are among the oldest continuously used human dwellings. The Anbangbang Shelter is said to have housed a family group of 15 to 20 people. The surrounding forest represents the former home of the Warramal clan.

Rock paintings

The paintings on the Anbangbang Shelter are probably the most famous rock paintings in Kakadu National Park . The last time they were completed was in 1964 by a man from the Badmardi clan named Nayambolmi.

Namondjok , the upper central figure in the paintings, is likely guilty of inbreeding. However, you have to know that in the Aboriginal culture the term brother and sister is broader and they have a more complex relationship system. Brother and sister are also called the mother's children and the father's brothers (in our case, cousins).

Namarrgon to the right of Namondjok is a lightning creature and a central figure in the world's creation time. He is responsible for thunderstorms and storms at the beginning of the rainy season. The white ribbon that goes from his left to his right ankle and connects his head and hands is supposed to represent a lightning bolt. He also hits the clouds with an ax to generate the thunder.

Barrginj , the female figure below Namondjok, is Barrginj, Namarrgon's wife. Their children are Al-yurr, the blue-orange grasshoppers of this region. Looking at their mythology , it was the Al-yurr who taught the Aboriginals the language, the social system, their beliefs and their moral concepts.