Context (Acquisition Details)
This object is one of a collection of four throwing sticks made during this period. Three have been given to the museum, of which two have been accessioned into the collections. Richard Bateman bequeathed one more to the CUMAA Handling Collection.
Event Date
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Description (Physical description)
Weapon with two forked ends. Carved wooden weapon, apparently carved from a single piece of wood. Each end has two long forks. The entire object is covered in red pigment over which are painted designs, mainly cross hatching and parallel lines in red and yellow ?ochre pigment. Much of the painting is faded. Only the middle of the handle is plain red. There is a long crack on one side down the centre of the object.
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Field collection)
Collected by Fredrick John Afford Bateman, who was a doctor in Alice Springs periodically between 1955 -1959, where he worked both in the hospital there and as a flying medic.Richard Bateman, the collector’s son, in correspondence with CUMAA adds, 'It was a practice that all weapons, shields, knives were left outside the ward [at the Alice Spring Hospital] and were often unclaimed after the patients left the hospital.'
Event Date
Author: maa