amsd_00995

Title: A message stick listed on ebay

Description: Carved pituri trade message stick

Item type: message stick from a private sale

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Kalkatungu Austlang: G13 - Kalkatungu / Kalkadoon Glottolog: kalk1246

Source types: sale item, ebay

Notes: perezkelly: PK to seller on 28 October 2018: "Just some clarification, and sorry for all the questions!: -Did you provide the Roth text as general background information about message sticks? Or was this message stick actually collected by Roth in the context of pituri trade? -When was it made, and by whom? -How have you identified the bone as from a wombat? (If this is really from the Kalkadoon tribe, this is a long way from wombat habitat!) Cheers" Seller (13bar20) to PK: "Hello, yes you are right, the text was really for the understanding of the use of the sticks, no the stick was not to my knowledge collected by Roth. It was made sometime during the mid 1800's, by whom it was made is far beyond my knowledge. The Hairy Nose Wombat is in this area of North Queensland, Regards, David." "Hello again, the stick was owned by 'old Tim" a very elderly Aboriginal gentleman living near Boulia in North Qld, it was pasted down to him via his family, I have, thru a second party, purchased over the years, a number of his/family pieces , mostly carved bone used in various ritual, he told the story of its use in trading which was confirmed by Roth's writings and drawings. regards, David." Final sale price: AU$181.50

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Data Entry: Piers Kelly