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 one paddle-shaped and one forked end. Object made from one piece of dark wood, covered in red ?ochre pigment. The paddle-shaped end is painted with cross-hatching, dots and linear designs in red, black, yellow and white. The forked end shows traces of red, yellow and white pigment.
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