Tasmanian Aboriginals Cultural Heritage

The Aboriginal people managed and modified the land of Tasmania by using fire. To find food, they use a method called "fire stick farming" in which they would set fire to the land which would, in turn, support the fresh growth of bushes and grass. The fresh growth of grass and bushes would attract a large gathering of animals, then the Aboriginals would be able to catch their dinners easier than going hunting although they are hunter-gatherers. Their fires were not very large and widespread but were controlled. Their burning of the land created a diverse environment and a mosaic pattern. Their fire stick farming also drastically changed the landscape, turning bushes into grass due to them opening up the forest canopies.

Due to the diverse and authentic way the Aboriginals changed their landscape, the Aboriginals had a rich and assorted diet. Also, the tribes that lived on the coast of Tasmania were also able to consume marine species that were rich in protein and vitamin C. They consumed plants such as fern tree roots and grass; as well as animals including: kangaroo, wombat, possum, wallaby, emu, hen, oyster, mussel, and crayfish. The Aboriginals were very innovative as well. The Kangaroo apple, which is a tomato-like fruit that is toxic when it is not ripe, was be buried in the sand for to ripen before being eaten.

As well as being innovative with hunting and gathering, the Aboriginals used the land for many different purposes. Ochre is a very important clay to the Aboriginals that contains mineral oxides.  Once Ochre was found, it would be ground on a grinding stone to turn it into a fine powder. When ochre was burned, the color increased and the impurities were filtered out. Ochre was highly valued and traded between others. Tasmanian Aboriginal people used ochre for rituals as a facial accessory and when they were mourning the loss of a member of the tribe. Ochre was also used for artwork on the body. To achieve the correct color, it was mixed with blood or saliva depending on the color intended. Then, the mixture would be sprayed from the mouth to decorate another's body.

Spongelite and Darwin are both types of highly siliceous stone material which come from only one location on the West Coast of Tasmania. The spread of these two rocks prove how important trade was to the Aboriginals. In addition to Ochre and tools being traded, they also made cultural trades with other tribes. The Aboriginals interacted with other tribes and learned their dances and traditions.   Also, they traded their territory to other tribes and allowed them to use their hunting grounds.

The Aboriginal language is very different. There were approximately 600 to 700 different Tasmanian Aboriginal tribes and each tribe had its own language, territory, social system, and laws. Across all of these tribes, approximately there were 200 different variations of the language. Examples of languages that are still know today are: Yolngu with approximately 6000 speakers; Arrernte, approximately 3000 speakers; and Warlpiri approximately 3000 speakers.

Source:
"Australian Aboriginal Art." Aboriginal Art Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013. .