Hermannsburg, Central Australia [Northern Territory], 1929. Copy of 'NFSA Title No. 33113.'

Archive Collections / Board for Anthropological Research / Series AA346/09 / Hermannsburg, Central Australia [Northern Territory], 1929. Copy of 'NFSA Title No. 33113.'
BAR Expedition Symbol: E THIS FILM CONTAINS SECTIONS THAT ARE RESTRICTED.

This is the second of three film titles relating to the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) expedition to Hermannsburg, Central Australia [Northern Territory] during 4-23 August 1929. The expedition party included numerous BAR members. This title relates to items (AA 346/9/3/8-13). Duration 7 minutes 22 seconds.

NB Tindale in his journal entry for 12 August 1929 records that after 'lunch started to take a series of photos of cats-cradles. Took a party of girls over to the white sand of the Finke River bed, and secured about 80 feet of exposure.' He records that 'the principle girls from whom specimens were obtained were' Veronica, Afa, Ita, Claudie, Eugenie, Etheda and Elsie Butler. Tindale's journal entry for the 14 August 1929 continues that after 'lunch took the cats-cradle girls over to the river bed and took further interesting series of cats cradles on the motion picture; also a series of stills. [HM] Hale noted the names of the string games depicted in his diary.' See (AA 338/1/2) pp.318-320.

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 'E.' All individuals recorded during the expedition were assigned an individual subject number, for example [E87]. Where possible the 'individual subject number' of those who appear in film have been noted.

Note that the original nitrate film has deteriorated and the quality of the footage between the time codes 07:59 - 08:52 is affected.

The time coded summary is in minutes and seconds. Following the summary of this film is a list of references. Formats Held: SP Betacam, Digital Betacam, Access DVDs.

Summary (Time Coded): Taken from Access DVD 3 (AA 346/9/3/12)

00:00 Start of Hermannsburg, Central Australia [Northern Territory], 1929. Copy of [NFSA Title No. 33113]'

00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'

00:00 'The Museum Board of South Australia © 1929.'

01:30 Aldingita [E1] of the Luritja [Kukatja (NT)] people demonstrating the method of stalking with a spear and spear thrower. See: NB Tindale's Journal (AA 338/1/2), p.337.

01:46 Aldingita [E1] of the Luritja [Kukatja (NT)] people demonstrating the method of stalking and throwing a spear with and spear thrower. Shot close up.

02:16 Aldingita [E1] of the Luritja [Kukatja (NT)] people demonstrating the method of fire making using the friction of a spear-thrower against a soft wood dish. A second man stands beside him.

02:46 Restricted Content Starts.

03:44 Restricted Content Ends.

03:44 Aldingita [E1] of the Luritja [Kukatja (NT)] people demonstrating the method of stalking with a spear and spear thrower.

04:01 Restricted Content Starts.

05:18 Restricted Content Ends.

05:19 Claudie [E56] of the Aranda people demonstrating a series of string games. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/2), pp.318-319.

05:44 A different girl demonstrating a series of string games.

06:09 Ifa [E87] of the Aranda people demonstrating a series of string games.

06:38 View of river gorge. See: NB Tindale's Journal (AA 338/1/2), p.333.

06:55 View of river gorge. In the far distance five individual can be seen crossing the river to the far bank. In the middle foreground a man can be see watching or photographing the same scene.

07:05 View of river gorge.

07:18 View of river gorge from the top of the top of the gorge.

07:29 Several views of the surrounding landscape from the top of the gorge.

07:58 Two girls demonstrating a series of string games.

08:11 Two different girls, one of whom is Elsie Butler demonstrating a series of string games.

08:31 Claudie [E86] of the Aranda people demonstrating a series of string games.

08:52 End of 'Hermannsburg, Central Australia [Northern Territory], 1929. [NFSA Title No. 33113]'

Tribal / language groups recorded during this expedition as recorded in the Data Cards (AA 346/4/10)
Tindale Tribes: Aranda; Kukatja (NT); Walpiri.
AIATSIS Tribal / Language Groups: Arrernte; Luritja; Warlpiri.

  1. HERMANNSBURG, NT, 1929: COPY OF 'NFSA TITLE NO. 33113.' MASTER PRESERVATION COPY
    Format: SP Betacam
    Duration: 7 min. 22 sec.
    Transfer Date: 23/06/2005
    Generation: Copy of SAMA Nitrate Film 'Title No. 33113, held at NFSA
    Notes: At National Film and Sound Archive this item is managed as 'NFSA Title No. 33113.' The history of the SAMA nitrate film deposit at NFSA in 1979, has been documented in the Series Report (AA 346/9).

  2. HERMANNSBURG, NT, 1929: COPY OF 'NFSA TITLE NO. 33113.' DUBBING / LOAN COPY
    Format: Digital Betacam
    Duration: 7 min. 22 sec.
    Transfer Date: 23/06/2005
    Generation: Copy of AA346/9/8

  3. HERMANNSBURG, NT, 1929: COPY OF 'NFSA TITLE NO. 33113.' PRESERVATION DVD 1 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 7 min. 22 sec.
    Transfer Date: 23/06/2005
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/3/9

  4. HERMANNSBURG, NT, 1929: COPY OF 'NFSA TITLE NO. 33113.' PRESERVATION DVD 2
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 7 min. 22 sec.
    Transfer Date: 23/06/2005
    Generation: Copy of AA346/9/3/9

  5. HERMANNSBURG, NT, 1929: COPY OF 'NFSA TITLE NO. 33113.' ACCESS DVD 3 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 7 min. 22 sec.
    Transfer Date: 23/06/2005
    Generation: Copy of AA346/9/3/10

  6. HERMANNSBURG, NT, 1929: COPY OF 'NFSA TITLE NO. 33113.' Access DVD 4
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 7 min. 22 sec.
    Transfer Date: 23/06/2005
    Generation: Copy of AA346/9/3/11

  • NB Tindale's Journal on Anthropological Expedition to Hermannsburg, Central Australia' in 'Diary of Researches 1922-1930' (AA 338/1/2), pp.296-352. Particular references relating to this film item can be found on pp.318-320, 337.

  • BAR Sociological photographs (AA 346/4/10/1)

  • BAR Anthropological Data Cards (AA 346/4/10/3)

  • BAR expedition photographs, Hermannsburg, 1929 (AA 346/6)

CreatorBoard for Anthropological Research
ControlAA 346/9/3/8-13
Date Range04 August, 1929  -  23 August, 1929
Quantity 12.5cm,   6   film items. Formats: Betacams, DVDs
Series AA346/09