Scarred tree

An Aboriginal scarred tree (Parramatta, NSW). Photo by Jens-Uwe Korff.

Aboriginal scar tree created in 2012

Scarred trees are trees which have had bark removed by indigenous Australians for the creation of canoes, shelters, shields and containers, such as coolamons. They are among the easiest to find archaeological sites in Australia.

Bark was removed by making deep cuts in a tree with a stone axe. 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. It can be rectangular, square, diamond, etc.

Scarred trees are significant evidence of Aboriginal occupation and scarred trees can provide information on Aboriginal activities in the area that they are located.

The designs that adorn specific ceremonial trees are designated as 'dendroglyphs.'

References

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. 2005. Aboriginal scarred trees in NSW - a field manual.ISBN 1-74137-316-6

Indigenous Australians

Peoples	Aboriginal Australians Australoids Blackfellas Communities Groups Half-castes Tasmanians Torres Strait Islanders Victorians Western Australians

Individuals	Activists Musicians People from politics and public service Performing artists Sportspeople Visual artists Writers

Culture	Astronomy Avoidance Bora Corroboree Deadly Awards Deities Dreaming Dreamtime Enumeration Flag Kinship Kurdaitcha Marn Grook Message stick Mythology NAIDOC National Indigenous Human Rights Awards Outstation movement Riji Seasons Smoking ceremony Songlines Tjurunga Torres Strait Islands Woggabaliri

Languages	Avoidance speech Australian Aboriginal English Macro-Gunwinyguan languages Australian Creole Language groups Loanwords into English Palawa Pama–Nyungan languages Placenames Sign languages Torres Strait Island languages

Organisations	ATSIC Aboriginal Medical Service Aborigines Advancement League Aborigines Progressive Association AIATSIS Australian Aborigines' League Central Land Council Media National Congress of Australia's First Peoples National Indigenous Council Northern Land Council Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations Politics TSRA Reconciliation Australia Sorry Day

Bushcraft	Boomerang Buka Bush bread Bushfood Bush medicine Coolamon Fibrecraft Fire-stick farming Food groups Humpy Possum-skin cloak Scarred tree Soaks Spinifex resin Sweet foods Waddy Woomera

Arts	Artifacts Bark painting Contemporary visual art Dance Didgeridoo Music Music groups Rock NATSIA Award Papunya Tula Sandpainting Vibe Visual art

History	Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 Caledon Bay crisis Cummeragunja walk-off Day of Mourning Gurindji Strike Historical figures History Prehistory History wars King plates Massacres Black War Missions Native police Pilbara strike Pintupi Nine Tent embassy Western Australia

Issues	Crime Health Petrol sniffing Land rights Native title Protected Area Media portrayal Northern Territory National Emergency Response Self-determination Stolen Generations Half-Caste Act Voting rights 1967 Referendum

Scarred tree

See also

References