Desert Carvings
Beginning in the railway camps which were along the lines of Alice Springs in the 1920’s, the Arrernte and Western Desert people have traded their wooden carvings for European goods. This is known as punu, the carvings often express the Europeans presence on their lands. Before men accessed metal tools and the tourist industry, they carved wood with stone tools.
Shields
Wooden shields provide a ‘canvas’ for Aboriginal artists to paint or carve their own Dreamings-they are their own designs. Shaped by their particular regional style, the designs give a shield added power and are believed to help ruin the aim of the attacker.
Spears
By adding a spearthrower to their spears, Aboriginal men could gently increase the force of their throw without ruining their aim. This meant that they could bring animals and birds down faster and from greater distances. Some spears were never thrown but had important ceremonial uses.