Gabarnmung, Archaeological site near Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia.
Gabarnmung is a rock shelter in south-western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, largely shaped by human removal of rock from a naturally eroded cliff. Its sub-horizontal ceiling, about 19 by 19 metres and 1.75 to 2.45 metres high, is held up by 36 eroded pillars; some pillars were removed, reshaped or moved, and ceiling slabs were taken out and repainted. The ceiling bears large animal figures in white and reddish-brown pigment, including an elongated outlined form and a smaller striped figure.
The shelter was rediscovered on 15 June 2006 by Ray Whear and Chris Morgan of the Jawoyn Association during a helicopter flight; elders Wamud Namok and Jimmy Kalarriya named it Nawarla Gabarnmang and identified the Buyhmi clan as traditional owners. Excavation began in May 2010 under Bruno David of Monash University. Charcoal from the lowest layer gave a mean age of 45,180±910 years cal BP, and ash on a fallen painted slab dated the ceiling painting to before 28,000 years ago.
The name Nawarla Gabarnmung means "place of hole in the rock" in Jawoyn, given by elders Wamud Namok and Jimmy Kalarriya, who visited the shelter as children. The Buyhmi clan are the traditional owners. Painted panels on the ceiling and pillars include fish such as barramundi, wallabies, crocodiles and spiritual figures; some recent panels date to between AD 1433 and 1952.
The site is located in a remote area approximately 35 kilometers west of Maningrida and is accessible mainly by helicopter. Visitors should prepare for isolation and limited facilities typical of such distant archaeological locations.
The shelter's ceiling and pillars carry tool marks from deliberate reshaping: some pillars were removed, others recut or shifted, and ceiling slabs were taken down and repainted. Rock debris was tipped down a talus slope outside, so the 19 m × 19 m chamber is partly a built interior rather than a plain eroded cavity.
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