Marra Wonga (or Turraburra), formerly known as Gracevale,[1] is a major Aboriginal rock art site near Barcaldine in Queensland, Australia.[2][3] The location of a sandstone escarpment forming a rock shelter over 160 metres in length, it comprises 111 stencils and over 15,000 petroglyphs (carvings), the oldest of which date back more than 5,000 years. The petroglyphs are mostly lines, grooves, drilled holes, and representations of animal tracks, although a cluster of human feet with six toes is carved into the floor of the shelter. Amongst the unique compositions to be found at Marra Wonga are "engraved star-like designs with central engraved pits and large, engraved snake-like designs running across and through other petroglyphs".[3]

In 2019, the site was purchased for the custodians of the local Iningai people by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) of the Australian Government[4] It is now managed by the Yambangku Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development Aboriginal Corporation (YACHATDAC)[2][5] and there are plans to open a multimillion-dollar education centre.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ McCarthy, F. D. (1960). "Rock Art in Central Queensland". Mankind. Sydney. 5 (9): 400–404. doi:10.1111/j.1835-9310.1960.tb00325.x. ISSN 0025-2328. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 Rosengreen, Carley (21 September 2022). "Massive Outback rock art site reveals ancient narrative". Phys.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  3. 1 2 Taçon, Paul S. C.; Thompson, Suzanne; Greenwood, Kate; Jalandoni, Andrea; Williams, Michael & Kottermair, Maria (2022). "Marra Wonga: Archaeological and contemporary First Nations interpretations of one of central Queensland's largest rock art sites". Australian Archaeology. 88 (2): 159–179. doi:10.1080/03122417.2022.2084666. hdl:10072/419730. ISSN 2470-0363.
  4. ↑ "Gracevale 'Turraburra' Station, QLD". Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  5. ↑ Brown, Sharon M. & Thompson, Suzanne (2020). "Gracevale, a Case Study on Caring for Country and Rediscovery of Culture and Language by the Iningai People in Central West Queensland" (PDF). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. 128: 23–27. ISSN 0080-469X. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Larkins, Damien (18 October 2020). "Indigenous story wall restored, open to visitors in outback Queensland". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2022.


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