Carved Indigenous Australian hardwood boomerang

Boomerangs were used predominantly as hunting weapons, but also in fighting and ceremonial events. Thought to have been developed from the club, the boomerang demonstrates a significant development in Indigenous technology. The boomerang provided Indigenous Australians with a more efficient hunting tool that enabled people to hunt their prey from a greater distance and, in the hands of a skilled user, with greater precision. The aerodynamic shape of the boomerang allows it to fly in a virtually straight line and hit its target in an effort to either kill or maim prey.

In addition to their use in hunting, the boomerang also plays a significant role in Indigenous culture and ceremonies as a percussive musical instrument. Boomerangs can also be used as an aid in lighting a fire. Since European settlement, the boomerang has become significant as an iconic and quintessentially Australian item that is sought after by tourists as well as more serious art collectors.

(Source: Australian Museum)