The Tasmanian Aboriginal people have lived on this island for at least 35,000 years. Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage is an immensely valuable part of Tasmania's history and a vital element in the lives of today's Aboriginal community.
Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage has many forms - some of it is instantly recognisable, much of it is harder to see. Many of these examples of Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage can be protected and managed by improved legislation. Consultation with the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and other Stakeholders will determine the most appropriate ways of achieving this.
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Stone arrangements - Pits, cairns, pathways and walls, often found in coastal areas |
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Paintings - Usually hand stencils, created by an artist blowing ochre paste over a hand. These mark important spiritual places |
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Cultural landscapes - generations of Aboriginal burning have created landscapes that offer evidence of Aboriginal land management practices |
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Cultural knowledge and practices - traditions such as shell necklace making have been passed down for countless generations. This knowledge needs protection, along with the natural resources that it draws upon. |
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Stone tools - Isolated tools or large scatters sometimes numbering several million pieces |
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Shell middens - Commonly found near the coasts or beside estuaries and often thousands of years old |
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Rock shelters and caves - Permanent features of the landscape that formed safe, comfortable and sheltered living places for thousands of years |
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Quarries - Places where stone was extracted to make tools or where ochre was mined for ceremonial uses |
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Rock engravings - Designs include circles, lines and dots, or more complex images and scenes |
