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BoggleCoolamon (vessel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Aboriginal carrying vessel. For the Australian town, see Coolamon, New South Wales.
A coolamon is an Indigenous Australian carrying vessel.
It is a multi-purpose shallow vessel, or dish with curved sides, ranging in length from 30–70cm, and similar in shape to a canoe.
Coolamons were traditionally used by Aboriginal women to carry water, fruits, nuts, as well as to cradle babies. Today when women gather bush tucker, they usually use a billy can, bucket or flour tin. Coolamons were carried on the head when travelling any distance, or under the arm if used as a cradle. If carried on the head, a ring pad (akartne in Arrernte) was placed on the head, made out of possum and/or human hair string, twisted grass, or feathers.[1]This helped to cushion and support the carriage of the coolamon; the same purpose as those used by women in India and Africa to carry vessels on their heads. The Pintupi of the Western Desert would attach a double strand of plaited rope (ngalyibi) made of hair or plant fibre to sling the coolamon over their shoulders.[1] They also wore smaller coolamons as hats, with the twine around the chin.[2]
Coolamons were used for winnowing grains in the traditional bread-making process, as well as a general heating and cooking vessel. They could even be used as an umbrella.
Contents |
Construction
A scarred tree, probably used to make a coolamon (Parramatta, NSW). Photo by Jens-Uwe Korff.
Coolamons were often ornately decorated on their exterior with various etchings – depicting tribal insignia and totemic designs. They were also used in ceremonies, such as for aromatic smoking, which was believed to have purifying effects. They were rubbed regularly with fat, such as emu fat to keep the wood in good condition.
Some names in other Aboriginal languages
Coolamon is a word from the east coast of Australia, used by Murri, or Queensland Aborigines, as well as by the Dharug, or Eora people from the Sydney area. Some other names, and their respective languages, include:
| Word | language |
|---|---|
| piti |
|
| Ualarai |
| binguie | Wollaroi |
| Kutthung |
| oorlarda | Bardi |
| tarnuk | |
| lijarri | Wagiman |
| urtne | Arrernte |
| yandandakko | Pintupi |
| yoko | Kaurna |
See also
References
External links
- Aboriginal bowls & baskets
- Photo from British Museum
- Aboriginal Economy & Society
- Arrernte Dictionary
- Making bush bread from bean tree nb 08.0927 - Website not available
- Artwork showing woman carrying coolamon
![[1]](http://gunada.curtin.edu.au/local/images/artefacts/DSC47.jpg){kind=link}