Why Is Australian Aboriginal Culture
Aboriginal is an Australian culture that includes various practices and ceremonies which are centered on dreamtime belief. The culture is characterized by the reverence for land and oral traditions. The views are considered to be based on both the ancient time of the creation and the present days of reality. Resultantly, there are many different groups each with their individual culture and language which have evolved over time. For instance, the rainbow serpent is the main ancestral being for many Aboriginal people through Australia. The Australian Indigenous culture is not associated with a particular religion, but it is composed of different religions. The information that was provided by the census in 1991 shows that, seventy-four percent
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of Aboriginal respondents were identified with Christianity while others were identified with other religions such as Muslim and Buddhism. In essence, this paper discusses the practices and ceremonies adored by Aboriginal culture to show it uniqueness as compared to other Western cultures.
With the use of stone tool technology and decorations with ochre pigments that were initiated in sixty thousand years ago, probably, Australia's Aboriginal culture represents the oldest surviving culture in the world. While the rest of the World developed Stone Age culture, Australians did not and as a result, Neolithic and Paleolithic are considered being similar since the technology did not progress as much. The use of percussion techniques chipping away at the brink of the pillar is the humankind’s most ancient stone tool technology that was practiced by aboriginal during the classical period and was still in practice in 1960’s. Moreover, many stone choppers and scrapers that have been in use for the last few decades are similar to which were used in earliest tools. As well, the manufacture and use of the pounded edge axes which are used today are similar to those used in the northern mainland and Papua New Guinea in the earliest days. However, it appears that, the present manufacturer of the ground edge ax has spread in the south dating back the model that was used in Southern Australia. Additionally, a new technology that was creating stone blades was developed about five thousand years ago, and it lead to the increase of stone spear points, blade shaped stones and scrapers.
In 1978, the European influence started in Sydney region of Southeast Australia and later in 1980s reached Central Australia. By 1960s, most of the Aboriginal groups living in these remote areas were virtually influenced by European culture. As a result, traditional nomadic families moved from the desert region to settlements. Many customs, traditional activities have changed following the European interaction, and as these new practices are passed down from the generation, they are becoming considered as traditional. As a result of experience with Europeans, there were many changes in Aboriginal culture over the past thousand years. As the Archeological studies reveal it, rock painting showed changes in deities as well as the development of the spear thrower and new stone technology.In many ways, the aboriginal traditional varies in time and places.
The rising of sea levels 11000 years ago separated the Aborigines of Tasmania, cutting any contact with the mainland until the European arrival.
The sea levels continue to increase making these people become the most isolated people in the world. Missing out on mankind, the later interventions by Europeans lead to the development of spear thrower and innovations in stone technology. On the other hand, people in the far north Queensland did not consider themselves as Aborigines. The culture of this distinct group is a mixture of Aboriginals from mainland Australia and that of Papua New Guinea. In earlier times, it formed one land mass connecting Papua New Guinea to the mainland. Presently, people live across the field of transformation from traditional Aboriginal culture to European culture. Away from the larger Aboriginal communities are some groups of families staying in remote areas attempting to maintain Stone Age hunting, food gathering, and ceremonial life. However, in this level, people wear clothes, may own cars and men will hunt with rifles as well as spears. Additionally, there are people living in larger Aboriginal communities purchasing most of their food and other necessities from the local stores irregularly carrying out old-style hunting and food gathering as well as trying to conserve traditional ceremonies and ritual. On the other end are urban Aborigines incarnating European lifestyles. The subsequent loss of craft skills and tribal practices in transport and communication are changes experienced in this community. However, the sense of belonging to the land, arts and crafts the importance of family and ancestry, as well as the religiousness and inheritance, continues as the modern necessities of the Aboriginal
culture.
In conclusion, Aboriginal language, and cultural practices are not similar throughout the continent but varies in different regions. Moreover, Australia has over forty tribes each with their language and traditions and in this sense; it was a group of nations just like Europe today. Therefore, certain cultural aspects found in one region may be absent in the others. It is essential to realize that, when discussing of their culture, some practices defined may only refer to some areas by specific tribes or particular people.
of Aboriginal respondents were identified with Christianity while others were identified with other religions such as Muslim and Buddhism. In essence, this paper discusses the practices and ceremonies adored by Aboriginal culture to show it uniqueness as compared to other Western cultures.
With the use of stone tool technology and decorations with ochre pigments that were initiated in sixty thousand years ago, probably, Australia's Aboriginal culture represents the oldest surviving culture in the world. While the rest of the World developed Stone Age culture, Australians did not and as a result, Neolithic and Paleolithic are considered being similar since the technology did not progress as much. The use of percussion techniques chipping away at the brink of the pillar is the humankind’s most ancient stone tool technology that was practiced by aboriginal during the classical period and was still in practice in 1960’s. Moreover, many stone choppers and scrapers that have been in use for the last few decades are similar to which were used in earliest tools. As well, the manufacture and use of the pounded edge axes which are used today are similar to those used in the northern mainland and Papua New Guinea in the earliest days. However, it appears that, the present manufacturer of the ground edge ax has spread in the south dating back the model that was used in Southern Australia. Additionally, a new technology that was creating stone blades was developed about five thousand years ago, and it lead to the increase of stone spear points, blade shaped stones and scrapers.
In 1978, the European influence started in Sydney region of Southeast Australia and later in 1980s reached Central Australia. By 1960s, most of the Aboriginal groups living in these remote areas were virtually influenced by European culture. As a result, traditional nomadic families moved from the desert region to settlements. Many customs, traditional activities have changed following the European interaction, and as these new practices are passed down from the generation, they are becoming considered as traditional. As a result of experience with Europeans, there were many changes in Aboriginal culture over the past thousand years. As the Archeological studies reveal it, rock painting showed changes in deities as well as the development of the spear thrower and new stone technology.In many ways, the aboriginal traditional varies in time and places.
The rising of sea levels 11000 years ago separated the Aborigines of Tasmania, cutting any contact with the mainland until the European arrival.
The sea levels continue to increase making these people become the most isolated people in the world. Missing out on mankind, the later interventions by Europeans lead to the development of spear thrower and innovations in stone technology. On the other hand, people in the far north Queensland did not consider themselves as Aborigines. The culture of this distinct group is a mixture of Aboriginals from mainland Australia and that of Papua New Guinea. In earlier times, it formed one land mass connecting Papua New Guinea to the mainland. Presently, people live across the field of transformation from traditional Aboriginal culture to European culture. Away from the larger Aboriginal communities are some groups of families staying in remote areas attempting to maintain Stone Age hunting, food gathering, and ceremonial life. However, in this level, people wear clothes, may own cars and men will hunt with rifles as well as spears. Additionally, there are people living in larger Aboriginal communities purchasing most of their food and other necessities from the local stores irregularly carrying out old-style hunting and food gathering as well as trying to conserve traditional ceremonies and ritual. On the other end are urban Aborigines incarnating European lifestyles. The subsequent loss of craft skills and tribal practices in transport and communication are changes experienced in this community. However, the sense of belonging to the land, arts and crafts the importance of family and ancestry, as well as the religiousness and inheritance, continues as the modern necessities of the Aboriginal
culture.
In conclusion, Aboriginal language, and cultural practices are not similar throughout the continent but varies in different regions. Moreover, Australia has over forty tribes each with their language and traditions and in this sense; it was a group of nations just like Europe today. Therefore, certain cultural aspects found in one region may be absent in the others. It is essential to realize that, when discussing of their culture, some practices defined may only refer to some areas by specific tribes or particular people.