Gabarnmung (or Nawarla Gabarnmung, Jawoyn for “(place of) hole in the rock”) is an archaeological and rock art site in south-western Arnhem Land, in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory.
Habitation of the site has been dated to at least 44,000 years ago, placing it among the oldest radiocarbon dated sites in Australia (known older sites, such as the nearby Madjedbebe, are dated stratigraphically). The oldest rock art was produced more than 28,000 years ago, making it the oldest securely dated prehistoric art in Australia.
The site also includes panels of recent paintings, radiocarbon dated to between AD 1433–1631 and AD 1658–1952 (calibrated 95% CI), consistent with the reports that the cave was still visited within living memory, but its existence had been forgotten until its rediscovery by Ray Whear and Chris Morgan of the Jawoyn ᴀssociation while flying by helicopter on 15 June 2006.
A 45,000 year old rock shelter with carved pillars. In Jawoyn Country, Northern Australia
