Rawlinson Range Western Australia and Mount Davies, South Australia, 1963.

Archive Collections / Board for Anthropological Research / Series AA346/09 / Rawlinson Range Western Australia and Mount Davies, South Australia, 1963.
BAR Expedition Symbol: AN THIS FILM CONTAINS SECTIONS THAT ARE RESTRICTED.

This film documents the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) expedition to Rawlinson Range, Western Australia and Mount Davies, South Australia, during 24 October - 25 November 1963.

The expedition party visited many localities but the filming was centred around Kudjuntari, Rawlinson Range (Western Australia) and Cave Hill and Mount Davies (North West of South Australia).

The cinematographer was NB Tindale (AA 338). This film was only partly processed, the 13 reels were spliced together based on NB Tindale's journal entries (AA 338/1/26), annotations on film boxes (AA 346/9/27/15), and NB Tindale's 'Notes on Partly Processed 16mm films, examined by NB Tindale, July 1974.' (AA 346/9/27/8).

The method adopted by BAR expeditions to undertake research and record the results involved assigning a unique number to each individual (here called 'individual subject number'). This number was given the expedition symbol as a prefix, and remained consistent throughout the research. This expedition was assigned the symbol 'AN.' All individuals recorded during the expedition were assigned an individual subject number, for example [AN1]. Where possible the 'individual subject number' of those who appear in film have been noted.

Note that the time coded summary is in minutes and seconds. Following the summary of this film is a list of references and further notes.

Formats Held: 16mm B&W silent, SP Betacam, Digital Betacam, Access DVDs.

Summary (Time Coded): Taken from Access DVD 3 (AA 346/9/23/8)

00:00 Rawlinson Range, Western Australia and Mount Davies, South Australia, 1963.

00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'

00:00 'The Museum Board of South Australia © 1963.'

01:30 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people lashes a peg on the end of a spear thrower. Kudjuntari, Rawlinson Range, Western Australia. See: NB Tindale's 'Notes on Partly Processed 16mm films, examined by NB Tindale, July 1974.' (AA 346/9/27/8).

02:05 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people heats spinifex gum for the making of the spear thrower handle.

02:20 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people moulds prepared spinifex gum onto the handle of the spear thrower.

03:27 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people attaches an adze to the handle of the spear thrower.

03:59 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people demonstrates the grip for holding a spear thrower.

04:09 Close up portrait of Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people.

04:14 Close up of the completed spear thrower.

04:19 End of footage.

04:24 Wanatjua Tjinaritjukurupa [AN12] of the Ngadadjara people digging up water-bearing frogs, nanni, Kudjuntari, Rawlinson Range (Western Australia). See: NB Tindale's 'Notes on Partly Processed 16mm films, examined by NB Tindale, July 1974.' (AA 346/9/27/8), and Journal (AA 338/1/26), p.89. Due to camera malfunction camera 'stuttering' is evident throughout this section of film

05:14 Close up of Wanatjua Tjinaritjukurupa [AN12] of the Ngadadjara people using a digging stick.

05:26 Close up of Wanatjua Tjinaritjukurupa [AN12] of the Ngadadjara people removing water-bearing frog, nanni, deep from the ground.

05:38 Close up of a water-bearing frog, nanni.

05:58 Close up portrait of Wanatjua Tjinaritjukurupa [AN12] of the Ngadadjara people, smiling.

06:08 Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] of the Ngadadjara people and his family in their cold season hut, Kudjuntari, Rawlinson Range (Western Australia). See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), p.121. Footage taken inside and outside the shelter. Due to camera malfunction camera 'stuttering' is evident throughout this section of film.

07:10 Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] of the Ngadadjara people removes a slab of wood from a tree for the making of a spear thrower. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), pp.89, 93.

07:28 Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] of the Ngadadjara people examining the shape of the piece of wood.

07:39 Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] of the Ngadadjara people using a metal tomahawk to create the shape of a spear thrower.

07:55 Close up portrait of Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] of the Ngadadjara people.

08:04 Close up of the making of the spear thrower.

09:59 Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] of the Ngadadjara people using a metal chisel to plane away wood to make the shape of a spear thrower, Kudjuntari, Rawlinson Range (Western Australia).

12:16 Close up of Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] of the Ngadadjara people speaking to the camera.

12:47 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people attaching spinifex gum to the end of a wooden implement. Kudjuntari, Rawlinson Range (Western Australia). See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), p.103. Due to camera malfunction camera 'stuttering' is evident throughout this section of film.

14:41 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people hafting a stone adze into the spinifex.

15:34 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people attaching spinifex gum to the other end of the wooden implement.

16:00 Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people hafting a stone adze into the spinifex.

16:55 Demonstration of the use of the hafted stone implement.

18:22 Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] of the Pitjandjara people attaching spinifex to a stone knife. Mount Davies, North West of South Australia. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), p.149. Due to camera malfunction camera 'stuttering' is evident throughout this section of film.

20:21 Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] of the Pitjandjara people pressure flaking.

21:15 Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] of the Pitjandjara people attaching spinifex to a stone knife.

21:57 Tjibukudu [AN22] of the Nakako people uses a branch to sweep the ground around a termite mound. Wingelina, Mount Davies (North West of South Australia). See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), p.159.

22:06 Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] of the Pitjandjara people Tjibukudu [AN22] of the Nakako people and a third man carry armfuls of spinifex grass.

22:28 Tjibukudu [AN22] of the Nakako people beats the spinifex grass with a stick to dislodge the resin.

22:47 Close up of the spinifex grass being beaten.

22:54 Close up portrait of Tjibukudu [AN22] of the Nakako people.

23:02 Gathering together the spinifex resin and removing the waste. 'Filmed the clearing of the gum and its warming with pieces of bark and the rolling into balls on sticks which were then brought together, warmed and compressed into solid balls of keiti.' NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), p.159.

23:56 Spinifex grass.

23:57 Restricted Content Starts.

26:04 Restricted Content Ends.

26:04 Group of shelters. Due to camera malfunction camera 'stuttering' is evident throughout this section of film.

26:20 Nakako children mine kangaroo meat, a woman stands near them. NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), p.187.

26:26 Close up of Nakako children mincing kangaroo meat between two stones.

26:45 Landscape.

27:03 Tjibukudu [AN22] and Alan [AN28] of the Nakako people along with Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] and Lance Wiratjutjukurupa [AN 26] of the Pitjandjara people at a rock quarry, where they hurl large boulders and hammer off flakes. Mount Davies (North West of South Australia). See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), p. 149.
Due to camera malfunction camera 'stuttering' is evident throughout this section of film.

28:54 Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] of the Pitjandjara people attaching spinifex to a stone knife.

29:32 Landscape with spinifex grass.

29:38 Close up of spinifex grass.

29:52 Continuation of the spinifex gum preparation.

30:23 A group of seven men working on stone tools and making spear throwers.

30:33 Close up of Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] of the Pitjandjara people lashing a peg to a spear thrower.

30:48 Close up of Harry Malutjukurupa [AN24] of the Pitjandjara people examining the spear thrower.

31:02 Heating spinifex over a fire, pressure flaking.

31:30 Close up of Lance Wiratjutjukurupa [AN26] applying spinifex gum to a stone knife.

31:57 Softening spinifex gum by the fire.

32:19 Research experiments measuring the extent of sweating and water loss conducted by WV Macfarlane and J Sabine. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/26), pp.163, 165.

37:54 End of footage.

38:04 Close up of eight water bearing frogs.

38:24 A recently carved spear thrower.

38:47 A group of women and their children at camp including Kongala [AN14A] and Patjuninja [AN17] of the Ngadadjara people (AA 338/1/26), p.187.

39:24 Ray Parutjarta Tjukurupa [AN1] and Mickey Wati Warumalli [AN2] of the Ngadadjara people removes a slab of wood from a tree for making spear throwers.

40:56 Restricted Content Starts.

42:25 Restricted Content Ends.

42:48 Start of footage from the Expedition to Pearson Island, South Australia, 1960.

42:48 Expedition members on board a small boat posing for the camera and examining specimens.

43:47 End of footage from the Expedition to Pearson Island, South Australia, 1960.

43:47 End of footage.


Tribal / language groups recorded during this expedition as noted in the Data Cards (AA 346/4/25).
Tindale Tribes: Jangkundjara; Nakako; Ngadadjara; Pitjandjara.
AIATSIS Tribal / Language Groups: Yankuntjatjara; Nakako; Ngatatjara; Pitjantjatjara.

  1. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. MASTER POSITIVE PRINT, REELS 1-13
    Characteristics: 16mm, colour, silent, 1,500ft.
    Notes: This film is stored across two carriers 1-6, 7-13.

  2. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. EDIT PRINTS
    Characteristics: 16mm; colour; silent; 350ft.
    Notes: This item was previously held in the NB Tindale collection as Acc. No. 1025 'Sundry Rawlinson Range WA Nov 1963. Print made in 1968. Incomplete, Composite Reel 14.'

  3. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. EDIT PRINTS
    Characteristics: 16mm, colour, silent, 350ft.
    Notes: This item was previously held in the NB Tindale collection Acc. No. 1026 'Sundry Rawlinson Range, WA, Nov 1963. Print made in 1968. Incomplete, Composite Reel 15.'

  4. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. MASTER PRESERVATION COPY
    Format: SP Betacam
    Duration: 40 min 47 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/23/1

  5. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. DUBBING / LOAN COPY
    Format: Digital Betacam
    Duration: 40 min 47 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/23/4

  6. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. PRESERVATION DVD 1 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 40 min 47 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/23/5

  7. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. PRESERVATION DVD 2
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 40 min 47 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/23/5

  8. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. ACCESS DVD 3 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 40 min 47 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/23/6

  9. RAWLINSON RANGE, WA AND MOUNT DAVIES, SA, 1963. ACCESS DVD 4
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 40 min 47 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/23/7

  • 'Journal of Visit to the Rawlinson Range area in the Great Western Desert by Norman B Tindale. 24 October - 25 November 1963' (AA 338/1/26)

  • NB Tindale, 'Stone Implement Making among the Nakako, Ngadadjara and Pitjandjara of the Great Western Desert.' South Australian Museum Records 15:1 (1965), pp. 131-164.

  • NB Tindale 'Notes on Partly Processed 16mm films, examined by NB Tindale, July 1974.' (AA 346/9/27/8).

CreatorBoard for Anthropological Research
ControlAA 346/9/23
Date Range24 October, 1963  -  25 November, 1963
Quantity 23cm,   9   film items. Formats: 16mm, Betacams, DVDs
Series AA346/09