Not as easy as it looks ...

Hi Ming,

Yes I have used one, and even after some lessons it is not as easy as it looks. The best I could do was manage not to put a spear in my foot! This woomera is nearly 1 meter long and you need strong wrists to achieve the flipping action.

I will post a series of spears, both functional and decorative/ceremonial in a future thread.

You raise an interesting point because many of these artifacts are made for the 'tourist' market. The only way to ensure truly original pieces made with traditional tools and techniques is to go back before there was much European contact (more than 200 years). This woomera is around 40 years old and while made with metal tools I expect, shows many of the handmade characteristics that collectors look for. It is more than a decorative example.

Andrew

Australian Aboriginal artifacts 2 – Woomera

By: AndrewD : July 12th, 2012-22:01

Here is the second installment in my regularly irregular series of Australian Aboriginal art and artifacts. [ Fire sticks can be found by clicking here .] This artifact is a spear thrower or woomera. The word woomera originated amongst Aboriginal groups...

re: woomera

By: DRMW : July 12th, 2012-23:04

Your woomera seems like a nicely crafted decorative piece but have you thrown one? -MW

Not as easy as it looks ...

By: AndrewD : July 13th, 2012-15:28

Hi Andrew

By: watch-guy.com : July 14th, 2012-00:12

Very interesting artifacts Btw currently up in nt/wa. Saw an interesting movie called "contact" -not with Jodie foster. About the first contact with aboriginals in aw after the launch of the woomera rocket in 1964 called blue streak Also saw really good p...

Contact. Very interesting documentary ...

By: AndrewD : July 14th, 2012-04:44

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Truly amazing that there was still first contact happening in the 1960's, and true to form the 'white men' didn't look after them too well. Also demonstrated what a big area central Australia is. http://www.youtube....

Very cool and primitive looking!

By: dxboon : July 13th, 2012-00:36

I always enjoy seeing your unusual collections, Andrew! I thought fondly of you recently when I went to Portland and drank excellent Stumptown coffee! :-) *hugs* Daos

Stumptown

By: AndrewD : July 14th, 2012-06:06

Did you enjoy the coffee? Along with Intelligentsia, Stumptown is very important in the US coffee scene. Really pushing the idea of coffee as an artisanal product like wine, and promoting the importance of growers. I would love to visit its home in Portla...

I enjoyed the coffee a lot, but am not one of the coffee cognescenti...

By: dxboon : July 17th, 2012-00:49

...like you, Jed, and others. Portland is full of "coffee heads." Honestly, it seemed like everywhere you turned a sign read, "Espresso and _____" (e.g. "espresso and car wash," "espresso and vintage books"). :-) There is no coffee shortage in Portland! C...