Philip Clarke paints a picture of the culture and traditions of Aboriginal Australia. Drawing on research from anthropology, cultural geography and environmental studies as well as his own fieldwork, he explains the diverse ways in which Aboriginal people relate to the land across the continent. Heavily illustrated, the book should appeal to anyone interested in understanding the traditional lifestyle of Aboriginal people.

Table of Contents

PrefaceIntroductionPART ONE: ORIGINS OF ABORIGINAL CULTURE1. Early human colonisationA changing planet. Bridging the gap. Occupying 'new' land. Human impact on the landscape.2. Religious landscapesThe Dreaming. Sacred sites. The Skyworld and Underworld.3. Kinship and family lifeKnowing your kin. Gender and taboos. Play and games. Rites of passage.4. Mapping peopleTribes and clans. Travelling ceremonies. Languages. Layering of identity.PART TWO: MATERIALS OF CULTURE5. The hunting and gathering modeFood and water quest. Medicines and narcotics. Resource management.6. The toolmakerStone and bone as tools. Holding it together. Retooling.7. The gatherer's toolkitGathering implements. Clothing. Domestic life.8. Weapons and hunting implementsWeapons. Hunting and fishing. Watercraft.9. Art and the music of the DreamingMythological space. The artist's equipment. Early art traditions. Ritual and ceremonial objects.PART T

Reviews

""Philip Clarke has penned an insightful and wide-ranging account of Australia's Aboriginal cultures from a perspective of great learning and insider privilege. It's an immensely significant work, revealing the extraordinary richness of one of the world's oldest continuous cultures."