Aboriginal Culture

TOOLS, UTENSILS, AND WEAPONS - 3

Hunting weapons and devices

Spears. Fighting spears were used to hunt large animals. In northern Australia, smaller light-weight spears, made from bamboo grass and other light materials, were thrown with a light-weight spearthrower and used to spear birds in flight, and small animals. Multi-pronged spears were used to catch fish and eels.

Six spears from north Queensland, circa 1912.
From left to right:

1. Erik Mjoberg was told this barb was made from a human shin bone, and it appears similar to those made from stingray barbs.

2. A spear with its tip made from part of a fish or silurid.

3. An Acacia wood spear.

4. A spear with barbs made from echidna quills.

5. A black palm spear.

6. A four-pronged fishing spear.

Aboriginal tools

Wooden items from northern Queensland.
From left to right:

1. A fish club from Cedar Creek.

2. A spearthrower with a decorative shell handle.

3. A spearthrower with a decorated shaft.

4. A music stick.

From 17 Years Wandering Among the Aboriginals.

A four-pronged wooden spear used to catch eels. Tully River. North Queensland.
From 17 Years Wandering Among the Aboriginals.

Aboriginal weapons

Clubs, boomerangs and throwing sticks were used to hunt animals. The returning boomerang was thrown into a flock of birds and increased the chance of success because of its returning nature.
Sticks and stones from the ground. If an animal was seen and no club or boomerang was close at hand, a person grabbed the nearest stick or stone from the ground and threw this at their quarry.
Nets. Kangaroos, wallabies and other animals were chased and caught in long nets which had been woven and strung across their usual pathways. Long nets were also used in some coastal areas as fish traps. Small scoop nets were used to catch small fish. High nets were strung between trees to catch birds.
Traps. A range of fish traps and eel traps were used.

Aboriginal Culture Topics...

INTRODUCTION		REGIONAL VARIATIONS		RELIGION		SOCIAL ORGANISATION

Art	Bags, Baskets, and Containers			Body Adornment	Bush Foods			Ceremonial Life

Fishing Methods		Fire-Making	Housing and Shelters	Stone Tools		Tree-Climbing	Wooden Tools and Weapons

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