The material contained in this item represents a formalised part of Tindale's long-running project to map the distribution of culture traits across Australia. Tindale writes that the material is 'a test gathering of words applied to a single cultural item, the boomerang' and notes that 'well over one-half of the words have been freshly gathered form aboriginal sources and linked with specific tribal names; the balance come from the collation of older published sources'. While the materials were formalised in 1975, they contain data gathered throughout Tindale's career; this data is located in his index card file: 'Weapons: Boomerang, Club, Shield, Spear, Spearthrower, Sword-club', AA 338/7/1/42.

This item consists of:

• A 21pp. manuscript entitled: 'A gathering of Australian Aboriginal words for boomerang by Norman B. Tindale, DSc. (Colorado)', 1975. This volume is typescript, but also includes: photocopies of handwritten index cards; a photocopied journal article by Roger A Luebbers, 1975; handwritten notes; and 2 photographs taken at Cockatoo Creek (NT) in 1931; and
  
  
• 400 (approx.) handwritten index cards mounted on paper
  This is the raw data for the 1975 manuscript. Information on the cards usually includes: an Aboriginal word for 'boomerang', a tribe, a location, and a reference. There is also an occassional illustration.