MusV_X_037625

Title: A message stick held in Museums Victoria

Description: Summary: "This small wooden message stick is incised with linear markings. One face is marked with zig zag, straight and crossed lines while the opposite face has a diamond pattern. The name recorded for the message or letter stick, as it is often called, is dharrpa minytjimirri, which literally means marks on wood." MV object description, PDF: "A rectangular ellyptical shaped section of wood incised with geometric patterns on both sides. One end is carved to in a handle like form with a hole is drilled through."

Date Created: 1930

Notes on date created: terminus ante quem (registered 21 March 1930)

Item type: message stick in a collection

Subtype: traditional_context

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Yan-nhangu Austlang: N72 - Yan-nhangu Glottolog: yann1237

Notes on linguistic areas: The origin of the message stick is Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

Cultural region: TopEnd_arnhem_east

Term for 'message stick' (or related) in language: dharrpa minytjimirri (from description "literally means marks on wood")

Dimension 1: 155mm Dimension 2: 40mm Dimension 3: 15mm

Materials: wood

Source types: museum collection

Date collected: 1926 - 1930

Institution/Holder file: Museums Victoria object identifier: MV_Item_X_37625 X 37625

Collector: Reverend Thomas T. Webb

Coordinates: 12°06'12.801600"S,134°54'39.398400"E  (-12.103556, 134.910944)

Media copyright: Museums Victoria Copyright Museums Victoria / All Rights Reserved / Reuse May Require Cultural Clearances (Licensed as All Rights Reserved)

Notes on coordinates: Absolute coordinates for Milingimbi

URL institution: https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/192464

Notes: From MusV spreadsheet data: "X 037625, Message stick, Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, 1930, Registered Webb, Reverend Thomas Theodor (Donation, 21 Mar 1930) Rev T.T. Webb Collection Milingimbi Northern Territory " Original register: 37625. Message Stick, "Darparr-min-ti-mirri" MusV ComSecondaryComments: "Local name of 'Darparrminjimuri' probably is 'dharrpa' = in this instance wood with 'minytji' = mark/symbol/design (Per L. Allen Nov 2013). Access changed to Open after consultation at Milingimbi in July 2014. (L Allen 2014)"

Media Files:

Data Entry: Julia Bespamyatnykh, Piers Kelly, Alexandra Roginski