Burrunggui is a large sandstone outlier (Kombolgie Sandstone Formation – see time line), formerly an island in that sea with cliff faces, and so stands above the forest below.  This site was not obvious, we happen to meet a couple who said that the artwork was good here.  It’s still at Burrunggui but around the other side.  We had a 2km walk through still, mega fly and mossie savannah.  Mentioned the spear grass before, here’s Paul standing next to a load of knocked over grass.  I’ve been cogitating and we have assumed that there must have been footpaths that aboriginals followed else their feet, whilst tough would have been cut to pieces.  They used to fire different portions of the landscape, a management strategy which is followed in the park to day.  It encourages new growth, make the lizards and other prey easier to see and generally tidied up the area.

Lots of interesting art at the site, only spoiled by a load of hippies – tolerant Rhu showing through – lying down all over the boardwalks. Should have stamped on them.  Anyway, this is a tall ship.  Detail shows the anchor chain and a tender at the back of the boat.  Ships like this were seen in the area 1880 to 1950 when they brought supplies to buffalo hunting camps on the alligator rivers floodplains, and returned to Darwin with the hides.  Lots of aboriginals worked in these camps but went back to their own way of life during the wet.

This is a non-aboriginal lady’s hand in lace glove.

Arms and long gloves.

A type of fish, think it might be Barramundi.  This is x-ray art, you can see the backbone, anus, fins.

Not very good picture of a mimi – a mischievous being.

More happy dancers

No Idea, got hands but face is obliterated.

Turtle.

Possibly a catfish – the white thing drooping down at the front could be a feeler.  Again backbone, finds and this ne has stomach detailed.

Sites like this would have been used for classrooms as well to drill into young people what was what.  These holes could be grinding holes for colures.

This is Algaihgo (Al-guy-go), the fire woman.  She is one of the first people or Nayuhyunggi (Nab-yuh-young-ghee), who created the world.  She planted the yellow banksias in woodlands and used their smouldering flowers to carry fire.  Dingos travelled the countryside with her and helped her hunt possum (her favourite food).  People are afraid of her because she kills and burns people.  Her Djang (sacred site) on Arnhem plateau, where her spirit lives, is avoided.

Algaihgo has four arms, and attached to her head are banksias.

Contortionist.

Stick figure next to x-ray person.  Pictures are painted on top of others so you often come across sections awash with bits of paintings. I read somewhere that it was the act of painting that was the spiritual act not viewing the painting.

Nayuhyunggi not only created the world but handed down laws for future generations to live by.  Some of the creation beings were human, others animals or plants.  All have great power.  These Nayuhyunggi are called Namarde (Nah-marn-deh).  They are invisible to ordinary people, live in caves and hollow trees and come out at night.  They can entice people into their caves by calling them to come closer.  They eat human flesh, spooky.  Anyway, there were several Namarnde painted at this site.  They have elongated toes and nipples.  Some carry dilly bags for their victims liver, lungs, heart and kidneys.  Yum, yum.

Close up of one, more than 5 fingers.

Uncomfortable looking boobies

These are turkey bushes (Calytrix exstipulata)

You get large swatches of the countryside awash with pink.  The flowers are really pretty.  When not in flower bit of a mess (apparently).