Summary

Human hair and animal fur were spun into string using a hooked or cross-like spindle. The spindle is generally rotated across the thigh while the hair is held in the other hand. Coating the palm hand holding the hair with ochre enabled the string to be coloured during spinning. In northern Australia, hair and fur string has great value and are almost exclusively used for ceremonial objects and paraphernalia. In Arnhem Land this string is a highly valued commodity, particularly that recovered from ceremonial objects, and was used as payment in trading for other materials or artefacts.

Local Name

Kopeida

Physical Description

A single stick with a hook at one end. It is wound with human hair string.

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