Accession No
Z 27610
Description
Churinga - Stone churinga. "Dalitja", a bush. 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
Marten, Robert Humphrey (Dr)
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
Z 27610; MAA: Z 27610; AR 1911.214
Cultural Affliation
Material
Stone
Local Term
Measurements
Events
Context (CMS Context)
Found: ?Central Australia
Event Date 28/4/1993
Author: maa
Description (CMS Description)
Stone churinga. " Dalitja", a bush. 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:87820
Images (Click to view full size):
