Material Culture Scars on trees can result from the deliberate removal of bark by Aboriginal people for a variety of reasons.Tree bark was an integral component of Aboriginal material culture. It was deliberately removed in order to use the bark for shelter, canoes and domestic articles such as coolemons; Create a marker tree allow access to other tree resourcessometimes toeholds were cut into trees to assist climbers obtain bird’s eggs or possums; sometimes carved patterns in the tree trunks served ceremonial purposes and some indicate burial sites.
Paul Girrawah House, Ngambri/Ngunnawal peoples, work in progress, Kamberri/Canberra, 2021 © the artist.
designs in four bands, 1987–88, purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery admission charges and commissioned in 1987
8
