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Yawuru men collecting turtle eggs, Broome
Yawuru men collecting turtle eggs, Broome

Yawuru men collecting turtle eggs, Broome

Photographer (Australian, 1899 - 1953)
Date1890-1950s
Object number00021821
NameNitrate negative
MediumEmulsion on nitrate film.
DimensionsOverall: 80 x 138 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA black and white photograph of four Yawuru men who are the traditional owners of the Broome and the surrounding region. The men are collecting turtle eggs on the beach. The Yawuru country covers vast areas from Wirrginmirr (Willie Creek) in the north, south through Minyirr (Gantheaume Point) and east past Man-galagun (Crab Creek) to the end of Roebuck Plains and south to Warrwan (south of Cape Villaret).HistoryScars were made on the body for many reasons, but mainly during ceremonies to mark age, initiation or to raise a person's status. Techniques varied from place to place, but scarification (or cicatrisation) usually involved cutting the skin with a sharp shell or rock, then rubbing irritating substances like ash into the cuts so that prominent keloid scars resulted. This process created raised, pigmented patterns on the chest, back, arms or legs of the initiate. Scarification is now rarely practiced. Source: Aboriginal Art Online SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, warships, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. The collection also contains a number of non-shipping studies. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.