Overview
Ubirr is a rock outcrop in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, whose walls bear many images painted by Aboriginal people over a very long span of time. The place is sacred to the Bininj/Mungguy people.
Description
The paintings include the X-ray style — showing fish such as barramundi and other animals with their bones and organs — as well as the Rainbow Serpent and spirit figures called Mimi. Some depict the contact period, with sailing ships and people holding guns.
History and legacy
This rock art is part of one of the world’s oldest continuous art traditions and is bound up with oral stories and law. Kakadu is inscribed as a World Heritage Site for both its nature and its culture.