AMSD: The Australian Message Stick Database

Area of Science:

• Anthropology
• Indigenous Studies
• Communication Studies

Background:

• Message sticks are traditional Indigenous Australian objects used for long-distance communication, employing carved symbols and oral statements.
• Settler and scholarly interest in the 1880s-1910s led to documentation and collection, but also coincided with the practice's decline and transformation.
• While traditional use waned, message sticks persist in contemporary public, artistic, and narrative contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address unanswered questions regarding the history, pragmatics, and global significance of Australian message stick communication.
• To create a centralized, accessible resource for studying message sticks.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of the Australian Message Stick Database, integrating data from museums, manuscripts, private collections, and field recordings.
• Inclusion of over 1500 individual message sticks with images and associated data.
• Collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and The Australian National University.

Main Results:

• The database provides a comprehensive overview of Australian message sticks, enabling holistic evaluation of knowledge.
• Facilitates exploration of previously unanswerable questions regarding the histories, meanings, and purposes of message sticks.
• Brings together diverse sources, including contemporary Indigenous knowledge.

Conclusions:

• The Australian Message Stick Database is a crucial new resource for researchers and Traditional Owners.
• Enables a deeper understanding of the multifaceted roles and enduring significance of message sticks in Indigenous Australian culture.
• Supports interdisciplinary research into historical and contemporary Indigenous communication systems.