Summary
Boomerang shaped spearthrowers are only known from the area of Bloomfield River in the wet tropics zone that is today referred to as the 'Daintree'. A Lutheran mission was established on the Bloomfield River in 1887, however when it closed in 1901, Kuuku Yalangi remained on their country refusing to be relocated to Cape Bedford. A number of nineteenth century examples of this unique style of spearthrower have survived, and Dr Walter E Roth collected fourteen in 1898 when he was the then Protector of Aborigines in north Queensland.
Local Name
Ballur
Physical Description
A curved spearthrower with wooden peg attached to distal end. Peg is bound to shaft with care and is at an acute angle. Proximal end is rounded.
More Information
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Object/Medium
Spearthrower
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Maker
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Locality
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Date Produced
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Object Measurements
790 mm (Length), 180 mm (Width), 20 mm (Height)
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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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Agent
Mr Robert Edwards - Museum of Victoria, 1970s and 1980s
Bob Edwards was engaged by the Christensen Fund to purchase iconic and fine examples of Aboriginal artefacts at auction and from private collectors in Australia and overseas. -
Keywords
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Collection Names
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Type of item
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Discipline
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Category
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Collecting Areas
Australian Indigenous - Northern Australia and Queensland and Torres Strait Islands