| ABORIGINAL SITES - South Australia |
Aboriginal sites of the Flinders Ranges
Adnyamathanha is the name of the language and culture of the Flinders Ranges, and one of the essential resources for understanding that region. Adnyamathanha language, Yura Ngawarla, has only around twenty fluent living speakers, and is a language and culture that will become extinct if it is not passed on. The Adnyamathanha are made up of the Kuyani, Wailpi, Yadliaura, Pilatapa and Pangkala, which are the traditional groups of the Northern Flinders Ranges and (with the Kokatha) the areas around Lake Torrens. The name Adnyamathanha means "rock people" and is a term referring to the Lakes Culture societies living in that area. They share a common identity, which they get from their descendants, this common bond is their language and culture which is known as Yura Muda. The origins of the Adnyamathanha are told through creation stories, passed down from generation to generation.
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Youambulla Caves
There are two caves (overhangs) at this locality depicting Aboriginal Rock Art, one of which is the largest cave containing paintings in the region. Most were made with manganese, charcoal, red or white ochre. A range of colours such as red, yellow, white, black and purple can be produced by mixing of pigments such as ochre, pipe clay, bird lime, charcoal and manganese. The painting was applied with lumps of manganese or painted with finders dipped in ochre mixed with animal fat. The motifs consist of patterns, hand stencils, line designs and animal tracks. The tracks include those of emus and kangaroos. Hand stencils are common in the area and are known from the Nullabor Plain, the North West and the Flinders Ranges. Sometimes paintings are touched up or painted over when the site is reused, and may depict events in the dreaming that the site is associated with.
Aboriginal painting occur in many caves, shelters and overhangs in the southern part of the Yappala hills. The age and purpose is not known but they are thought to relate to the dreamings or ceremonies associated with the site.
While the caves were probably visited regularly, there is no evidence that they were ever inhabited. However, these caves and the area surrounding them remain an important part of Adnymathanha peoples' culture and heritage. Although most of the rituals of the Adnymathanha people were exclusively male or female and of a secret nature, most involved both men and women.
Yourambulla is a name that is derived from the words 'yura bila' which means to men in the language of the Adnymathanha people of the Flinders Range who created this art. Yourambulla refers to the two peaks to the East of the caves which represent two ancestral companions who camped at this place while travelling in the Dreamtime, or time of creation in Aboriginal mythology. This story describes how the Adnymathanha moiety or kinship system came into being. This follows two matrilineal lines of descent, Arraru and Mathari. The northern peak represents the Ararru man and the southern peak the Mathari.
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Arkaroo Rock
Akurra is the name given to the giant serpents which, among other things, created Wilpena Pound. The walls of the Pound are the bodies of the "akurra" and the head of one of the serpents forms St Mary Peak, the highest peak in the Flinders Ranges at 1170m. There are many paintings at Arkaroo Rock created in red, yellow and white ochre and charcoal. An archaeological dig at the main cave dated the site as 5000 years old. The rock is located 43 km north of Hawker off the main Wilpena road. Allow 1 - 2 hours to complete the scenic walking trail to this important Adnyamathanha site that depicts the formation of Wilpena Pound. There are many paintings at Arkaroo Rock (including bird tracks, snake lines, waterholes and people), created in red, yellow and white ochre and charcoal. The site has been dated as 5000 years old.
Turn left at the sign 41 km north of Hawker off the Wilpena Road. Follow the gravel road from the marked turn off to the parking bay and continue by foot on the marked walking trail. From Arkaroo Rock can be seen Moonarie, one of Australia's premier rock climbing sites.
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Death Rock
Death Rock is located off the Quorn - Hawker road just past the Wirreanda Creek bridge. Death Rock is a large 7 metre high quartzite rock beside a permanent spring fed waterhole. It is an Aboriginal Historic Site. Look out for evidence of the original Ghan Railway track that passed through this way parallel to the road. Watch for emus. They are often seen on the Willochra Plain. A 6m high rock perched next to the creek bank is the rock from which Kanyaka derived its name. Below the rock is a large waterhole which is seldom dry. The rock is significant in that Aboriginal people would bring those near death to lie in its shadow until they finally passed away.
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Sacred Canyon
Sacred Canyon, a small chasm where ancient Aboriginal rock engravings are found on sandstone walls, is one of the major Aboriginal art sites in the Flinders Ranges. It is located 19 km from Wilpena off the main Hawker-Blinman road. The rock engravings representing animal tracks, people, waterholes and other symbols are best seen in soft morning or afternoon light. The Sacred Canyon Road turnoff is 1 km north of Wilpena entrance on Blinman Road.
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