Item X 92569 Gun-ganday burlupurr | Basket. Burarra. Maningrida, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. pre 1996

Summary

This type is a hunting basket known as kunmadj. The use of the Burney Vine gives these great strength allowing heavy game to be carried back to camp where they are hung from forked sticks to keep the meat away from dogs. The open weave allows sand, dirt and blood from the meat to drain off. Milarl is the Burarra language name for Burney Vine and is the term for these baskets. Burney vine was also used in making the distinctive 'windsock' traps that are set into weirs built in tidal areas along the coastline in order to catch fish.

Local Name

Gun-ganday burlupurr

Physical Description

A conical twined basket made of burney vine (Malaisia scandens). The handle is made from vegetable fibre and stitched to the sides under the rim on opposite sides.