N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park, Protected nature park in Eastern MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory.
N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park lies in the eastern MacDonnell Ranges, about 90 kilometres east of Alice Springs. The park covers low sand dunes and rocky outcrops, and its gorge walls hold roughly 6,000 stone carvings, or petroglyphs.
The gorge lies in the traditional country of the Eastern Arrernte people, who call it Ilwentje and used it for occupation, shelter and men's sacred sites. Its roughly 6,000 petroglyphs were made in two periods, about 10,000 and about 3,000 years ago, by pounding or fine pecking the rock.
The Arrernte people named this place Ilwentje and created over 6,000 rock carvings using pounding and fine pecking techniques. The carvings show how important this gorge has been to the connection between people and land for thousands of years.
Visitors need a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach the park on unsealed roads. It is important to bring plenty of water and wear protective clothing against the sun.
The 6,000 petroglyphs were made in two separate periods, roughly 10,000 and 3,000 years ago, using either a pounding technique with one rock against another or a fine pecking method. The Eastern Arrernte, who call the area Ilwentje, also left shelter and occupation sites and men's sacred sites in the gorge.
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