Topics: Culture

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Before Cook - North Coastal - view

The Guringai (Kuringai) speakers are thought to be the original inhabitants of northern Sydney and the inner eastern harbour regions. Guringai-speaking clans of about 40 to 60 people were made up of smaller extended family groups of perhaps a dozen people.

1775 - South West - view

they ate mangrove (toredo) worms called 'Cah-bro'

1776 - West - view

suffix (gal)

1776 - West - view

galleon

1776 - West - view

silcrete stone tool

1776 - West - view

Dreaming hero, Garangatch the giant eel

1776 - West - view

tool sites

1776 - West - view

habitation sites

1788 - North Coastal - view

The Cannalgal clan (Camaraigal, Ga-mariagal) are the first Indigenous peoples to meet the English settlers in Sydney Harbour. The clan are coastal people living between Manly Beach to Dee Why in the north.

1788 - West - view

Polyculturists

1789 - Central - view

male initiation ceremonies

1789 - North West - view

Aborigines harvesting yams, banks that are “ploughed” and other signs of occupancy: the setting of animal traps

1789 - North Coastal - view

In talking about Arabanoo, Marine Captain Watkin Tench writes “Indeed the gentleness and humanity of his disposition frequently displayed themselves … When our children … used to flock around him, he never failed to fondle them.” (Tench 1996, p. 95)

1790 - Central - view

language vocabulary

1790 - Central - view

fights or dances

1790 - Central - view

men fish with spears

1790 - Central - view

food is gathered by women

1790 - Central - view

fighting and contests

1790 - North Coastal - view

Phillip notes “the weather now being very dry, the natives were employed in burning the grass on the north shore opposite Sydney, in order to catch rats and other animals, whilst the woman were employed in fishing: this is their constant practice in dry weather.”

1791 - North West - view

“inland language” is different to the “coastal language”