Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve - Aboriginal Significance

Aboriginal Significance

Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles are of great cultural and spiritual signficance to local Aboriginal people. Although Karlu Karlu is within country belonging to Alyawarre people, Kayteye, Warumunga and Warlpiri people also have spiritual connections and responsibilities for the area.

One of the main Dreaming stories for the area which can be told to the public relates to how Karlu Karlu was made. This tradition tells of 'Arrange', the Devil Man, who came from a hill nearby and travelled through the area. Whilst walking along, Arrange made a hair-string belt (a kind of traditional adornment, worn only by initiated men). As he was twirling the hair to make strings, he dropped clusters of hair on the ground.

The clusters turned into the big red boulders at Karlu Karlu that have become so famous today. On his way back to his hill, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit turned into the granite boulders in the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, a hill called 'Ayleparrarntenhe' where he remains today .

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