Wurrwurrwuy Stone Pictures
| Location | |
|---|---|
| NT Portion 1044, north eastern Arnhem Land. |   |
| Gazettal Date | |
| 15 August 2007 Northern Territory Government Gazette No. G33 | |
| Description | |
| These stone arrangements consist of a number of “pictures” that depict Macassan boats, houses and other elements of their material culture, that are represented in outline form by small to medium laterite rocks. Locally referred to as “stone pictures”, these stone arrangements were probably made at the end of the 19th century. There are 47 independent stone arrangements and or features, made of laterite that exist at Wurrwurrwuy. Wurrwurrwuy is representative of the Macassan period of contact with Arnhem Land Aboriginal people during the late Holocene. This period of contact had fundamental impacts on Aboriginal culture, society and material culture. The existence of Wurrwurrwuy is testament to the significance of the relationship between the Yolngu and the Macassans. |
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| Statement of Heritage Value | |
| The stone arrangements or ‘pictures’ at Wurrwurrwuy in north east Arnhem Land depict aspects of Macassan material culture, including sailing vessels and dwellings. Aspects of Yolngu Aboriginal culture are also depicted at Wurrwurrwuy. These stone pictures outline a record of economic and social contact between the Yolngu and Macassans that continued for several centuries. Seafarers from Macassar in Sulawesi came annually for trepang (dharripa), pearl and turtle shells. Wurrwurrwuy is an important tangible reminder to the Yolngu of their past connections with the Macassans. Wurrwurrwuy is the most complex and well preserved example of three known stone picture sites. This site type is unique to the north east Arnhem region of the Northern Territory |
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| Further Reading | |
| to be provided. | |
