 They were mapped by Norwegian cartographers from surveys and air photos by the Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition (NBSAE) (1949–52) and from air photos by the Norwegian expedition (1958–59), and named for Charles W. Swithinbank, glaciologist with NBSAE.The Dråpane Nunataks () are nunataks north of Urnosa Spur, near the southwest end of the Kirwan Escarpment in Queen Maud Land.They were mapped by Norwegian cartographers from surveys and air photos by the NBSAE and additional air photos (1958–59), and named Dråpane (the drops).