Accession No

Z 27607


Description

Bullroarer - Wooden bullroarer, carved on one side. 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


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

Z 27607; MAA: Z 27607


Cultural Affliation


Material

Wood


Local Term


Measurements


Events

Context (CMS Context)
Found: Central Australia
Event Date 28/4/1993
Author: maa


Description (CMS Description)
Wooden bullroarer, carved on one side. 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:87817

Images (Click to view full size):