Nice

katana · 25th August 2010, 10:53 AM

Hi Ron,
welcome to the forum, I've taken the liberty of posting the picture you linked too...

Regards David

Ron Anderson · 31st August 2010, 04:00 AM

Hi Tim

As promised, here are some shots of Australian axes. The first three you'll see have been chipped and knapped very roughly, except at the bottom where they are very smooth.

Aboriginal people were quite smart in that way. Why waste time and effort smoothing the entire axe when you only need to do it for the portion that forms the blade.

Practical people these. They had better things to do.

The last picture is of a complete axe, very nicely crafted, and smooth all over. A little unusual for an aboriginal axe. More common in Papua New Guinea.

Ron Anderson · 31st August 2010, 04:11 AM

Tim

Some great grinding stones here. You can actually see the grinding pattern permanently etched onto the stones.

I've also included a shot of my millstone. This is from Queensland, I think.

These were collected in the 1950s.

Tim Simmons · 31st August 2010, 05:31 PM

How big is the millstone? That is a nice little group of objects.

Ron Anderson · 31st August 2010, 11:20 PM

Hi Tim

The millstone is pretty substantial - about 44cm long and 27cm wide.

It has two grooves. Some have only one.

This is a nice collection, yes, fairly recently acquired.

I'm not Australian. I'm an immigrant with a New Zealand and South African background. So I look at this stuff with all the fascination of a true outsider.

I'm quickly discovering this ancient culture and it is extremely interesting.

Regards
Ron

25th August 2010, 10:53 AM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Ron, welcome to the forum, I've taken the liberty of posting the picture you linked too... Regards David Attached Images

31st August 2010, 04:00 AM	#2
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi Tim As promised, here are some shots of Australian axes. The first three you'll see have been chipped and knapped very roughly, except at the bottom where they are very smooth. Aboriginal people were quite smart in that way. Why waste time and effort smoothing the entire axe when you only need to do it for the portion that forms the blade. Practical people these. They had better things to do. The last picture is of a complete axe, very nicely crafted, and smooth all over. A little unusual for an aboriginal axe. More common in Papua New Guinea. Attached Images

31st August 2010, 04:11 AM	#3
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Tim Some great grinding stones here. You can actually see the grinding pattern permanently etched onto the stones. I've also included a shot of my millstone. This is from Queensland, I think. These were collected in the 1950s. Attached Images

31st August 2010, 05:31 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	How big is the millstone? That is a nice little group of objects.

31st August 2010, 11:20 PM	#5
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi Tim The millstone is pretty substantial - about 44cm long and 27cm wide. It has two grooves. Some have only one. This is a nice collection, yes, fairly recently acquired. I'm not Australian. I'm an immigrant with a New Zealand and South African background. So I look at this stuff with all the fascination of a true outsider. I'm quickly discovering this ancient culture and it is extremely interesting. Regards Ron