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[Dendroglyphs, Aboriginal Scar Trees]

c1890s. Two albumen paper photographs, each with negative number “526” or “528”, 17 x 11.6cm. Minor crinkles, foxing.

Dendroglyphs are carvings of shapes and symbols into the bark of living trees. Australian Aboriginal people carved patterns into tree trunks for a variety of reasons, including for the “production of ceremonial or place markers. These elaborate markings…denote a ceremonial usage, where certain aspects of culture were taught (teleteglyphs). They may also indicate a place, and are primarily an indication of a burial site (taphoglyphs).” Scarred trees were most commonly associated with the Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay nations of Western NSW. Ref: Wiki; Koorihistory.com.

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Item #CL199-50

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