Open AccessHistoryPhysicsGeography

Duane W. Hamacher, John Goldsmith

2013.6.3Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage

DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1440-2807.2013.03.06

tlooto Summary

Aboriginal oral traditions describe origins of 4 Australian meteorite craters: Gosses Bluff (impact), Henbury (impact and non-impact), Wolfe Creek (impact and non-impact), and Liverpool (non-impact).

Abstract

We explore Aboriginal oral traditions that relate to Australian meteorite craters. Using the literature, first-hand ethnographic records, and fieldtrip data, we identify oral traditions and artworks associated with four impact sites: Gosses Bluff, Henbury, Liverpool, and Wolfe Creek. Oral traditions describe impact origins for Gosses Bluff, Henbury, and Wolfe Creek craters and non-impact origins of Liverpool crater, with Wolfe Creek and Henbury having both impact and non-impact origins in oral tradition. Three impact sites that are believed to have formed during human habitation of Australia - Dalgaranga, Veevers, and Boxhole - do not have associated oral traditions that are reported in the literature.

Citation format

HAMACHER, Duane W.; GOLDSMITH, John. Aboriginal oral traditions of australian impact craters [preprint]. arXiv, 2013. arXiv:1306.0278.