Summary
Central Australian shields were traditionally used as defensive weapons against spears and boomerangs in conflict situations. The surface of these shields were also decorated with designs representing the totemic ancestors of young men and displayed during the public stages of their initiation.
Local Name
Alkwerte
Physical Description
Softwood oval shape shield. Convex-concave cross-section and fluted both sides. Front decorated with sinuous lines, concentric circles and dots in white and yellow ochre. Coated all over in red ochre. Handle is bound with European cloth.
More Information
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Object/Medium
Shield
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Maker
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Cultural Groups
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Locality
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Date Collected
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Dimensions
705 mm (Length), 210 mm (Width), 75 mm (Depth)
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Classification
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Date Made
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Maker
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Clan/Language Group
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Place Made
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Indigenous Region
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Type of item
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