Anbangbang Shelter Drawings

The Anbangbang Shelter drawings are some of the most famous in the National Park. They were last worked upon in 1964 by Nayombolmi, a member of the Badmardi clan.

Namondjok is the central figure of the upper part and is thought to have been guilty of incest. To the right sits Namarrgon, a lightning being who plays a central role in the creation legends. The white band that links his ankles, head and hands is a lightning bolt. He also causes thunder by hitting clouds with an axe.

Underneath is Namarrgon's wife Barrginj. Together they produced Leichhardt's grasshopper (Petasida ephippigera) Al-yurr, a species of blue and orange grasshopper which in Aboriginal mythology are believed to be the lightning spirit's children. This belief is based on their annual appearance in November (or Gurrung season in Gundjeihmi language), which is the season of lightning that builds up to the annual north Australian Monsoons.

Aboriginal people have been coming home to this shelter for the last 6,000 years. Occasional use dates further back to 20,000 years, when the climate of the area was drier and food more scarce.
Over time objects discarded by people here have built up the floor of the shelter. Archaeological excavations have revealed organic objects not usually preserved in the hot, wet climate of northern Australia, safe in the dryness of this shelter.