karrarlarla, wijjartu

The old people crafted spears in a variety of types and sizes to suit their intended purpose - short, heavy ones were used for hunting. Some had hardwood heads with shorts barbs lashed on with kangaroo or emu sinew. Others had razor-sharp stone heads. The stone would have been collected locally or traded from the Kimberley or Arhem Land. The shafts were made from the stems of saplings or the branches and suckers of other trees, which were straightened by applying heat and pressure. Finding suitable branches locally could be difficult, and sometimes long, straight lancewood saplings were traded from the north. When the Europeans entered Warumungu country in the late 1800s, spears quickly became popular among European collectors. Large numbers were taken to museums and private collections. Spears are still eagerly sought by tourists.