Napwerte / Ewaninga Rock Carvings

Understand

The reserve contains some outstanding examples of Australian rock art.

History The conservation reserve was gazetted on 20 November 1996 and the claypan is a slightly concave surface approximately 100 metres across. It retains water after even light rain, thus attracting many birds and animals. The claypan and surrounding outcrops are also a significant archaeological site. The conservation reserve contains many prehistoric abraded and pecked engravings that provide an outstanding example of central Australian rock art. Some evidence suggest that these are at least 30,000 years old, while some say 40,000 years old.

Landscape The main feature of the area is a set of about 1000 petroglyphs, distributed among the rock outcrops to the south and south-east of the claypan. Most of the petroglyphs are non-representational, consisting of circles, lines and other geometric motifs, though there are some examples of animal tracks. The motifs have been compared with those found elsewhere in Central Australia and Tasmania.

Flora and fauna

Climate

Getting there

It is roughly 35 km (22 mi) south of Alice Springs via Maryvale Road. It's the only way to get to this conservation reserve

Getting around

The only way to get around the park is to walk.