G'day

After browsing the forums, I've realised that Australia is under represented a little bit in regards to primitive weapons/culture.

so here are some pics taken at the Australian Museum http://www.austmus.gov.au/ in Sydney.

the pics are of different types of shields, Woomera's (atlatl),  Boomerangs, and different types of clubs known as Nulla Nulla's (aka waddee's).

info about Nulla Nulla: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddy
              Woomera  : [url]  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woomera_(spear-thrower) [/url] 

The very attractive, flat, leaf shaped Woomera's are from the Central Desert Region of Australia and are known in the local Pitjantjatjara language as "Miru"; The hunting spears are called "Kulata", and  shields are called "Tjara".

having said that, not all items depicted are from the Central Desert Region, however the Woomera's are.

shields:

shields:

shield

Handgrip:

Nulla Nulla:

Woomera's

notice the flat leaf shaped Pitjantjatjara "Miru".

Boomerangs

Very impressive! Thank you!

It has been said before on a few threads that the term "primitive" unfortunately still often has that connotation of "not effective", "clumsy" or even "stupid". These pictures show once again what a great amount of knowledge and skill was necessary to produce such effective and beautiful weapons.

The more we know about prehistoric and aboriginal cultures, the more we have to admire their capacity to adapt to their surroundings, to survive and to thrive. Every individual had to have a very intense knowledge about every surrounding thing and being. Most of us do not even know what happens when we switch on the electric light.