Latest news with #AboriginalAustralian
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Oldest boomerang ever found doesn't come back — so what was it used for 42,000 years ago?
A boomerang discovered decades ago in a cave in southern Poland has now been dated to between 39,000 and 42,000 years ago, making it the oldest known example of such a tool in the world — and it doesn't come back when thrown. Unearthed in 1985 in the Oblazowa Cave, the artefact was originally thought to be around 30,000 years old. Now, new and more precise radiocarbon dating of bones found at the same site has pushed its age back by nearly 10,000 years, according to researchers cited by the BBC. The boomerang is unlike any other: it was carved with exceptional skill from a mammoth tusk. Scientists say the craftsmanship reflects a high level of sophistication among Homo sapiens living in Europe at the time. Dr Sahra Talamo of the University of Bologna said: 'It's the oldest boomerang in the world, and the only one in the world made of this shape and this long to be found in Poland.' The discovery provides 'remarkable insight' into early human behaviour, she told the BBC. While the tool was clearly shaped to fly when thrown, its aerodynamic design indicates it was not meant to return to the thrower. This suggests it was likely used for hunting or possibly for ceremonial purposes. The boomerang is exceptionally well preserved. Marks along its surface suggest it had been polished and carved to be used by a right-handed individual. Though boomerangs are typically associated with Aboriginal Australian culture, similar tools have been found across Europe and beyond. The oldest known Australian boomerang — made from wood — dates back about 10,500 years. In Europe, a 7,000-year-old wooden boomerang was found in Jutland, Denmark, while a 2,000-year-old oak version that does return was discovered in the Netherlands. (With inputs from BBC)
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley performs Acknowledgement of Country, signals new tone for Liberal Party
Newly appointed Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has adopted an Aboriginal Acknowledgement of Country, breaking from the position of former leader Peter Dutton. Ms Ley succeeded Mr Dutton as Opposition Leader after he lost his seat of Dickson at the 2025 federal election. While Mr Dutton had moved away from recognition of the Aboriginal Australian community at public events, Ms Ley has embraced a different stance. 'I'd like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today,' Ms Ley said at the National Press Club on Wednesday. Her decision to formally recognise indigenous people at the high-profile event draws a stark contrast to Mr Dutton. The former Opposition Leader had repeatedly argued that Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies had become 'overdone'. He also stated that he would not stand in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags if elected as Prime Minister. Mr Dutton's position attracted criticism as being emblematic of a culture war approach that intensified under his leadership. In her address, Ms Ley indicated that the Liberal Party would undergo a period of deep reflection after its electoral wipeout on May 3. She announced an existential review into long-term challenges confronting the party, including the loss of teal-held inner-city seats and ageing party membership. 'Our aim is to ensure the Liberal Party's future policy offering connects with voters across the country,' she said. 'I see supporting Indigenous Australians as a priority, I want to shout out to Kerrynne Liddle, a proud Indigenous woman. 'She's a Senator for South Australia and I'll be in close touch with her and all of my colleagues about how to best support the aspirations of Indigenous Australians.' The shift is particularly noteworthy given Ms Ley's former role as deputy under Peter Dutton, where she often defended the party's cultural positions. Asked at her first press conference after winning Liberal Party leadership, she said that Welcome to Country ceremonies would be held if the event was meaningful. 'With respect to Welcome to Country, it's simple: if it's meaningful, if it matters, if it resonates, then it's in the right place,' Ms Ley said. 'As Environment Minister and Health Minister I listened carefully and participated in Welcome to Country ceremonies that were all of those things. 'If it is done in a way that is ticking a box on a Teams meeting then I don't think it is relevant. 'It actually diminishes the value of what it is and it's important that we understand that.'
Sydney Morning Herald
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Major wing of New York's famed Met reopens with work by First Nations artists
New York: When an institution as large and prestigious as the Metropolitan Museum of Art embarks upon a major project, it takes time. The remaking of its Michael C. Rockefeller wing, which houses the Met's enviable collection of 650 works from Oceania, began 10 years ago at a planning retreat outside the city. Shuttered since the pandemic, the wing reopened last weekend, including new works by Aboriginal Australian artists at a time when Indigenous art is earning a growing following in the finely tuned and highly competitive New York art world. 'There's a lot of interest and patronage,' says Maia Nuku, the Met's curator for Oceanic art. 'There are particular collectors who have been really invested in making sure these works of art come to major US institutions … It's been ticking away.' Some of those people, including American actor Steve Martin and gallerist D'Lan Davidson, gathered at the Asia Society's head office in Manhattan last week for a conversation about the ethics and resonance of collecting Australian Indigenous art. But there are swings and roundabouts. A major Sotheby's auction of Indigenous Australian art on May 20 was a fizzer, with just 24 of 65 lots sold. It was the first such auction in New York since the prominent Indigenous art champion and consultant Tim Klingender died in a freak boating accident on Sydney Harbour in July 2023. There is a degree of macabre symmetry with Michael Rockefeller, the member of the storied Rockefeller family for whom the Met's wing is named. He was believed to have died when his boat capsized off the coast of then Dutch New Guinea in 1961 – although there has long been a sense of mystery hanging over his disappearance. Unlike Klingender, his body was never found. The Australian section of the Rockefeller wing is modest, but in a prominent location. It features two newly acquired bark cloth paintings by the late Yolŋu artist Nonggirrnga Marawili from her series Baratjala, including a bright work from late in her career when she began experimenting with vibrant pinks extracted from discarded magenta printer cartridges, mixed with natural clay and ochres. 'She didn't want to limit herself to the ochres and the browns,' says Nuku.
The Age
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Major wing of New York's famed Met reopens with work by First Nations artists
New York: When an institution as large and prestigious as the Metropolitan Museum of Art embarks upon a major project, it takes time. The remaking of its Michael C. Rockefeller wing, which houses the Met's enviable collection of 650 works from Oceania, began 10 years ago at a planning retreat outside the city. Shuttered since the pandemic, the wing reopened last weekend, including new works by Aboriginal Australian artists at a time when Indigenous art is earning a growing following in the finely tuned and highly competitive New York art world. 'There's a lot of interest and patronage,' says Maia Nuku, the Met's curator for Oceanic art. 'There are particular collectors who have been really invested in making sure these works of art come to major US institutions … It's been ticking away.' Some of those people, including American actor Steve Martin and gallerist D'Lan Davidson, gathered at the Asia Society's head office in Manhattan last week for a conversation about the ethics and resonance of collecting Australian Indigenous art. But there are swings and roundabouts. A major Sotheby's auction of Indigenous Australian art on May 20 was a fizzer, with just 24 of 65 lots sold. It was the first such auction in New York since the prominent Indigenous art champion and consultant Tim Klingender died in a freak boating accident on Sydney Harbour in July 2023. There is a degree of macabre symmetry with Michael Rockefeller, the member of the storied Rockefeller family for whom the Met's wing is named. He was believed to have died when his boat capsized off the coast of then Dutch New Guinea in 1961 – although there has long been a sense of mystery hanging over his disappearance. Unlike Klingender, his body was never found. The Australian section of the Rockefeller wing is modest, but in a prominent location. It features two newly acquired bark cloth paintings by the late Yolŋu artist Nonggirrnga Marawili from her series Baratjala, including a bright work from late in her career when she began experimenting with vibrant pinks extracted from discarded magenta printer cartridges, mixed with natural clay and ochres. 'She didn't want to limit herself to the ochres and the browns,' says Nuku.
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
REVEALED: New public art installations for the $836-million Sydney Fish Market
Anticipation for the new and improved Sydney Fish Market has been building up ever since the site's multi-million-dollar makeover was green-lit in 2020, and while it has not all been smooth sailing, the mission to transform it into the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere is forging on full speed ahead. However, the development is not only looking towards the future, but also paying tribute to the past. A series of art installations have been commissioned for the new precinct, which will honour Blackwattle Bay's First Nations and maritime histories. Visitors to the new Sydney Fish Market will be able to learn about the history of the area through five permanent installations that celebrate the site as a community gathering place. The first three sculptures were revealed today, each created by Aboriginal Australian artists who have designed works which pay respect to the continued presence of local Aboriginal people, and reference traditional cultural practices of the First Nations communities connected to the new Sydney Fish Market site. Grouped under the title Saltwater People Stories, the three installations include 'The Nawi', a depiction of a traditional nawi (fishing canoe) by Bidjigal elder Uncle Steven Russell; 'Birrang Narrami (Star Net)', a traditional woven fishing net by Wiradjuri, Yuin and Gadigal multi-disciplinary artist and master weaver Nadeena Dixon; and 'The Call of Ngura (Country)', with eel-like forms representing the Dreamtime journey of the great Creator Gurangady, by Buruberong and Wumali (Dharug) creative Leanne Tobin. The sculptures, cast in bronze at the North Head Foundry in Manly, will be installed on the eastern and western promenades of the new Sydney Fish Market later this year. Two further installations will sit on the eastern promenade – an interactive water play area for families, and an installation paying homage to the site's industrial history as a working harbour. Placemaking NSW will also host a curated arts and cultural program featuring dance and music. This will take place in the public domain throughout 2026, featuring local artists. First Nations Contemporary Artist, Leanne Tobin said: 'As a First Nations artist, I'm excited to see our culture represented and visibly acknowledged as part of the new Sydney Fish Market. This project is more than a world-class building and fish market. It is an opportunity for us to educate and inform visitors here by weaving our stories and culture into the precinct. 'These installations allow us a way to share our cultural stories and highlight our deep and ancient connection to this land while also creating a shared experience that reflects our heritage for all to enjoy.' Sydney Fish Market is due to house 38 tenants (you'll find a few of the big name venues revealed here), with more than 26,000 square meters of retail, dining and community space across three levels. The new Sydney Fish Market site is slated to open sometime in 2025, the exact date is yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, the current Sydney Fish Market site will continue to remain fully operational.
