Boomerang
In this article instead of writing about the latest science and technology innovations of Australia, I decided to write about Aboriginal inventions which has also defined Australia’s science and technology landscape. Aboriginals have lived in Australia for more than 5000 years and are spread throughout the continent. They belong to 2 main groups, one of them who were inhabiting the mainland when Britain started its colonization around 1788 and the other group are from a group of islands near Queensland called Torres Strait Islands. Between them, they speak 250 languages. Genetic studies amongst this group traces their ancestry back to Africa and in present they represent only 3% of the total Australian population. Here are some of the inventions that helped this unique group of people adapt and thrive in Australia before its colonization
Boomerang: The first boomerang was invented about 25,000 to 50,000 years ago and in Poland. This was invented for hunting animals. Invention of the returning boomerang is credited to Aboriginals. The hypothesis goes that by trial and error it was discovered that a curved stick would make a better hunting tool due to 2 reasons, one it has a higher velocity so can travel faster and secondly it can be reused multiple times.
Woomera: This is a spear first used 5000 years ago by Aboriginals mainly for hunting. It was for various purposes such as hunting, cutting meat, transporting vegetables and carrying small animals.
Spear
Spinifex resin: This is glue type material which was invented using spinifex grass. This resin was used to attach wood to rock while making instruments such as spears.
Firestick farming: One of the strategies used by Aboriginal people to manage their land resources. A method used to increase biodiversity by changing the landscape using controlled burning resulting in increased productivity of certain plant species and encouraged diversity.
Water carriers: The harsh, hot landscape of Australia led to the invention of water carriers by Aborigines during their long hunting trips. They processed the skins of kangaroos, wallabys, possums and other smaller mammals to be able to store water.
Stone and natural glass tools: Aborigines were known for manufacturing sophisticated tools using stones and natural glass. These were used for daily tasks such as shaping wood, sharpening spears, scraping animal skin.
Didgeridoo: This is thought to be the world’s oldest wind instrument designed and made by Aborigines for recreation purposes.
Bush medicine: Aborigines have a deep knowledge of medicinal properties of plants and use it to cure various ailments. They have invented strategies of making poisonous seeds edible, of using alkaloids from plants as painkillers, of extracting tannins to treat inflammation.
Example of a medicinal plant
Researching for this article has led me to appreciate Aboriginal people of Australia even more as their inventions have shown that we can work with Nature and not exploit it to lead a comfortable life.
Royalty free images were used.
