KARLI FLUTED HUNTING BOOMERANGS

These two boomerangs were bought together at the Kirribilli markets here in Sydney twenty years ago. If you look at them there are differences in the fluting. I suspect that they may not be a true pair - ie made by the same person. They might well have been collected by the previous owner and put together. I am no expert and would like to hear the opinions of others.

Traditional boomerangs were carved with stone axes, adzes and scrapers and many regional variations in size and shape can be found in museum collections.

The hunting (non-return) boomerang, like the "karli" of Central Australia’s Warlpiri mob, is a multi-purpose tool. Its uses include clearing grass, poking campfires, striking a wounded animal, digging earth ovens, cutting meat, and as clap sticks to beat time for chanting and ceremonial dances.

These are two asymmetrical brown wooden 'mulga' boomerangs with incised or ‘fluted’ decoration. The boomerangs are slightly convex on one surface and almost flat on the other. The ends are semicircular and on the convex surface there are parallel longitudinal grooves covering the entire length in one case and a small (5cm or 2") plain section on the other. The flat surface is smoothed with an axe or adze.

Dimensions:
Length: 620mm or 24.6"
Width: 60mm or 2.4"
Height: 15mm = 0.5"

I've put them here with Punu lizard & a Reconciliation badge worn by participants in the Corroboree 2000 'Sorry' Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk, 28th May, 2000.