Accession No
1952.422
Description
Churinga - Oval, schist churinga. Both faces are engraved with spirals and parallel, zigzag lines. There are traces of red inlay in the pattern. Churinga are inscribed with sacred designs, which represent a totemic ancestor. Aboriginal women and uninitiated boys are forbidden to see them. Their meaning is only fully divulged to men who are initiated into that totem and who are of elder status. Those with a hole bored in one end (stone ones excepted), for the attachment of a cord, are called bullroarers. When whirled round, they produce a characteristic sound believed to be "spirit talk"
Place
Oceania; Australasia; Australia
Period
Source
Boyd, J. D. (Prof.)
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1952.422; MAA: 1952.422
Cultural Affliation
Material
Stone; Schist
Local Term
Measurements
Events
Context (CMS Context)
Found: Central Australia; Collected by: Peacock.Dr.Albert
Event Date 28/4/1993
Author: maa
Description (CMS Description)
Oval, schist churinga. Both faces are engraved with spirals and parallel, zigzag lines. There are traces of red inlay in the pattern. Churinga are inscribed with sacred designs, which represent a totemic ancestor. Aboriginal women and uninitiated boys are forbidden to see them. Their meaning is only fully divulged to men who are initiated into that totem and who are of elder status. Those with a hole bored in one end (stone ones excepted), for the attachment of a cord, are called bullroarers. When whirled round, they produce a characteristic sound believed to be "spirit talk"
Event Date 28/4/1993
Author: maa
FM:87612
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