Tour Stop Two
Land of Crocodiles
The circular fossil in the rock is the cross-section of a limb bone belonging to a crocodile species called Baru wickeni— a five-metre monster that spent much of its time on land.
A giant freshwater crocodile that was up to 10 metres long called Palimnarchus gracilis was uncovered at the much younger ‘Terrace Site’ (c.24,000 years), indicating that these crocodiles may have occupied the Gregory River alongside First Nations people.
Illustration © Jane Jehne
Tour Stop Two
Land of Crocodiles
The circular fossil in the rock is the cross-section of a limb bone belonging to a crocodile species called Baru wickeni— a five-metre monster that spent much of its time on land.
A giant freshwater crocodile that was up to 10 metres long called Palimnarchus gracilis was uncovered at the much younger ‘Terrace Site’ (c.24,000 years), indicating that these crocodiles may have occupied the Gregory River alongside First Nations people.
Did you know?
The oldest known fossil of Crocodilus johnstoni (Freshwater Crocodile) was discovered at Riversleigh’s ‘Rackham’s Roost Site’ (c.1.8 million years) making this species another one of the ‘living fossils’ still found on Waanyi Country.
The Freshwater Crocodile is culturally important for the Waanyi people.
Kaburrukaja, kalakadirri or kaji
Kaburrukaja features in Waanyi creation stories and is connected to important sites. It also features in the rock art on Waanyi Country. Kaburrukaja is the totem for some Waanyi people, including some of the descendants of senior Waanyi man Jack Riversleigh.
Kaburrukaja still inhabits the waterways on Waanyi country.
Kaburrukaja eggs (makulu) are a traditional bushfood, and seasonal flowers tell people when to collect them. These makulu can be cooked in a ground oven. In the past, old people also hunted kaburrukaja with spears and traditional grass nets. Some Waanyi people would not have killed or eaten kaburrukaja because it was their totem.
