In the Beginning: A Perspective on Traditional Aboriginal Societies

General introductory text on traditional Aboriginal societies; the Dreaming and relation to land; stories and mythology: religion – totemism; rights to land – conflict and violence; law, leadership and social authority; sorcery and magic; ceremonies; gender divisions; life cycle – child rearing, death -mortuary practices and beliefs; kinship – diagrams, moiety and clan systems, section and subsection systems (examples from Arnhem Land, Nyangumarta, Ngaanyatjarra, Walpiri and Ngarluma); marriage rules; economy and subsistence – seasonality, foods; regional systems – inland riverine (Paakantji), Western Desert (Martu), coastal Cape York (Pama Malnkana), southern highlands (Ngunawal/Ngarigo), south western forests (Nyungar) Tasmanian coast (Nuenonne); hunting, fishing and gathering; use of fire; material culture – tools, shelter, clothing; trade and exchange; arts – rock art, engraving, basketry, ornaments and decoration, music, dance and performance; language and communication; uses of archaeology; colonisation and settlement; environmental change.