Ochre Cliffs of Northern Territory, Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326605)
Rockingham, Australia
November 18, 2016 6:20am CST
While we were travelling in the Northern Territory, Australia, we visited an aboriginal site which was very important as a source of ochre. Ochre are earth pigments which can include various shades of red, yellow and even purple. The main ingredient is iron oxide-hydroxide or limonite.
These soft-stone ochre cliffs are in the MacDonnell Ranges, west of Alice Springs, and are highly significant to indigenous Australians. Geologically, they date back to a time when the Ranges were no more than the floor of a massive inland sea.
Ochre has been collected here for thousands of years and it is a highly significant place to the local Tjoritja Aranda people.
The coloured earth is used for ceremony, dance and decoration, and burial rites. Aborigines would travel for miles to trade various materials for the valuable ochre.
21 people like this
21 responses
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Nov 16
That's pretty cool. Interesting that they'd trade for it.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
2 Dec 16
That is a beautiful photo, Judy!
Have you ever read the series that started out with a book named The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, Judy? (If not, may I recommend it to you?)
It is a Romantic Sci-Fi series. The first book describes what may have been some of the actual uses for ochre back in the early history of the human race. Ochre is mentioned in several of the books in the series.
The series is very well written and quite interesting. I enjoyed it!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
2 Dec 16
@JudyEv I just found out she put out the last book in that series a couple years ago and I missed it! I just downloaded the free copy of it to my pc. (I keep asking myself why not skip talking anymore tonight and read that new novel? LOL! But then I keep talking!)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 16
@DaddyEvil How many in the series? You'll have to do a night shift to get it read. :)
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
18 Nov 16
beautiful sight to see 'n one with such great significance.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
19 Nov 16
@JudyEv i'd hope so. there's some places here'n new mexico where's ya can only enter with a native american guide'n order to protect their lands. i don't blame 'em one bit.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Nov 16
@crazyhorseladycx The guides at Uluru were mostly indigenous or partly so. They had been trained well and were very knowledgeable as well as gently pointing out how special these places were.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 16
@fishtiger58 The colours were quite vivid.
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@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
18 Nov 16
How interesting Judy, and can they just get the colour from swiping the rock?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Nov 16
@MarymargII Stodge I think. :) You will soon be getting into good stodge weather won't you? 
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
19 Nov 16
@JudyEv Well how cool is that? Kind of like stodge or is it podge--haha!
1 person likes this
@kevinakash (2084)
• Sri Lanka
20 Nov 16
do people sell them? i mean it is not suitable to sell them to Aborigines. Do Aborigines do jobs?
1 person likes this
@kevinakash (2084)
• Sri Lanka
21 Nov 16
@JudyEv yes unless they'll be unable to live. it is good only the aborigines are allowed to touch the ochre.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 16
Only the aborigines are allowed to touch the ochre. Many aborigines have jobs. There are also a lot of part-aborigines in Australia too. The ones in the centre of Australia aren't quite so likely to have jobs but otherwise they are just the same as everyone else.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
19 Nov 16
this is so beautiful, is the place already included in the world heritage site of UNESCO
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
19 Nov 16
@JudyEv I just love the color combination of that view in your place.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
18 Nov 16
Ochre ...in my paintbox..:)
Those cliffs show off nature's assortment of colours
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Nov 16
Quite an amazing place for sure and very interesting the local people still use it.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51538)
• Philippines
19 Nov 16
Thank you for sharing this. First time I've heard this kind of ochre.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Nov 16
I didn't really have much idea where the aboringines found their ochre. They call them 'ochre pits' but they aren't pits at all.
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 16
There was some lovely country up there. It wasn't all barren and arid as I thought it would be.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Nov 16
I like that. The cliffs are the kind of sites I enjoy seeing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 16
There are a number of gorges in that area - all lovely in their own way but you just about get 'gorged' out. And you really need to do a few in a row as it is quite a distance out to them.
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
18 Nov 16
Wow that's so pretty. Thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326605)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Nov 16
The ochre areas were very special. I would have thought if there was some in an area there would be a lot more but apparently that's not so.
