Australian Aborigine Weapons and Digging Tools
The Australian Aborigines did not have access to metal tools or weapons until their first contact with non-Aboriginal peoples. Weapons were generally fashioned from wood. By far the most well-known aboriginal weapon was the boomerang. Aborigines also fashioned daggers and swords from reeds and teeth. Spears also were used as weapons and could be thrown using spear throwers, while the most common digging tool was the simple digging stick.
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Spear and Spear Thrower
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Spears were made for warfare as well as for fishing and hunting large game. Spears made for fishing were made of light, flexible woods. They were equipped with several wicked barbs to prevent fish from escaping; the points were hardened in a fire. Spears made for war also were barbed, making it necessary to push them straight through to remove them. Like those used for warfare, spears made for hunting large game, such as kangaroo, were made from a strong and heavy hardwood. Stone points were occasionally used for heavier spears, which were usually used with a spear thrower. The design of aboriginal spear throwers varied widely, but were essentially notched pieces of hardwood that magnified the power of the spear.
Digging Stick
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Digging sticks were made from hardwood. One of their ends was sharpened to a point and hardened over a fire. The sticks were each as long as 2 yards, enabling the user to apply considerable leverage when digging in compact soil. Surprisingly, stone tips were seldom added to the end of digging sticks.
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Boomerang
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Originally an Aboriginal weapon, the boomerang has become a popular toy. The boomerang is the quintessential Aboriginal weapon. Contrary to popular belief, the only boomerangs that were designed to return to the thrower were those developed for hunting waterfowl. Hunters often painted them with totemic symbols that were believed to give them power over their prey. Boomerangs also were used as projectile weapons in war. The largest killing boomerangs could be as long as 2 yards from tip to tip.
Swords and Daggers
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Swords and daggers were only rarely used by Aboriginal Australians. The base of these weapons was typically made of pleated reeds. Within these plaits were embedded shark teeth. These teeth were placed at regular intervals along the edge of the weapon, creating a wickedly sharp, serrated edge. As these materials were only available in coastal areas, these weapons never became widespread.
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References
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