Other sites
Ceremonial grounds
These are sites where initiation ceremonies, marriage alliance ceremonies, tribal meetings, and other important social functions were held. They are places of great significance to Aboriginal people.
Carved trees
Carved trees are becoming rarer in NSW as trees decay and fall over or are burnt. Aboriginal people used carved trees to mark burial and ceremonial sites. Usually a section of the bark of the tree was removed and a carving made on the exposed wood. These trees are still significant to particular Aboriginal groups.
Scarred trees
These are trees from which a section of the bark and wood has been removed to make canoes, shields, containers (coolamons), and other utensils and weapons. Other trees have toeholds cut in them, for hunting possums or gathering honey.
Stone arrangements
Stone arrangements range from simple mounds to complex ceremony sites. Some of these may have a practical use, as hunting hides or fish traps. Others may have a ceremonial role, for initiation or other religious purposes. We do not know the purpose of many stone arrangements, but some are still important and significant to Aboriginal groups.
Page last updated: 26 February 2011
