The Maringgal (Spear Thrower) is used to help propel a spear. These items are used for hunting and highly decorative pieces are used in ceremony.
Also known as woomera; a flat type of spear thrower.
The Burarra word for scorpion maringgul ji-jurlpa literally translates as ‘Spearthrower on-her-bottom-end’.
Excerpt from the Burarra – Gun-nartpa dictionary: with English finder list. Published by the Summer Institute of Linguistics 1994.
Name: Thomas Baru
Language: Burarra (Martay), Yan-nhangu
Community: Maningrida
Biography:
Thomas Baru is a young emerging artist from the Warrawarra clan. this clan consist of many strong Burarra-Martay speaking artists such as Clancy Baru and Marcus Pascoe.
His paintings relate to the country called Gamurra Gu-yurra which lies between Maningrida and Ramingining in central Arnhem Land. Common totemic features depicted by this clan are Warraburnburn (a Wangarra or Ghost spirit), Gorraporda (darter), Marrchila/Baru (the saltwater crocodile) and ngokngok (Southern Boobook owl)
Warraburnburn In Burarra and Gun-nartpa languages the figure represented in this artwork is generally known as a wangarra ‘ghost spirit’. For the Warrawarra clan ghost spirits have their own particular characteristics and their own name – Warraburnburn. The Warraburnburn Read more…
Warraburnburn In Burarra and Gun-nartpa languages the figure represented in this artwork is generally known as a wangarra ‘ghost spirit’. For the Warrawarra clan ghost spirits have their own particular characteristics and their own name – Warraburnburn. The Warraburnburn Read more…
Nawarlah – Brown River Stingray We hunt the Nawarlah (Brown River Stingray) during the wet season. There is a plant with a yellow flower that tells us that it is the right time. We know Read more…