Scarred tree

A scarred tree or scar tree, also known as a canoe tree, is a tree which has had bark removed by Aboriginal Australians for the creation of bark canoes, shelters, weapons, tools, traps, containers (such as coolamons) or other artefacts. Carved trees are created as a form of artistic and spiritual expression by some Aboriginal peoples, to mark sites of significance such as burial sites.

An Aboriginal scarred tree, probably used to make a coolamons (Parramatta, NSW).
Carved tree created in 2012

Description

Bark was removed by making deep cuts in a tree with a stone pickaxe or other similar tool. The area of bark removed is typically regular in shape, often with parallel sides and slightly pointed or rounded ends, and the scar usually stops above ground level. Australian native Eucalypt species such as box and red gum were commonly used, and the scars remain in trees that are often over 200 years old. Such trees are significant evidence of Aboriginal occupation and can provide information on Aboriginal activities in the area that they are located.

Non-Indigenous Australians called the trees thus marked as scarred trees, scar trees or canoe trees.[1]

In the 17th century, dugout canoe technology appeared in Australia, to supplement the bark canoe, causing many changes to both the hunting practices and the society of the Aboriginal peoples.

Carved trees

Carved trees are mainly found in New South Wales, and are the work specifically of Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri artists. They were created to mark sites of particular ceremonial significance, such as initiation or burial sites. They are also known as arborglyphs, dendroglyphs and teleteglyphs.[2]

During the 19th century, sections of these carved trees were removed and placed in museums, but there is now a move not only to return these trees to the land of origin, but also to revive the practice of carved trees.[2]

Locations

Scarred trees are found among mature native trees, especially box gum and red gum trees, along rivers and lakes and at sacred sites. They are protected by legislation.[2]

Canoe trees have been photographed along the Murray River at Waikerie and Kroehns Landing at Nildottie in South Australia, and on the Murrumbidgee River near Hay, New South Wales.[3]

RMIT Bundoora, Victoria has six scarred trees on their campus.  They have developed a self-guided tour trail or information can be found on their website.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Aboriginal canoe trees around found along the Murray River". Discover Murray River. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. Korff, Jens; Spirits, Creative (6 July 2019). "Aboriginal scarred trees". Creative Spirits. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. "Photographs of canoe trees of the Murray River region". State Library of South Australia: Collections. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. "Keelbundoora Scarred Trees and Heritage Trail". RMIT. 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.

Further reading
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