Aboriginal sites at Bobbin Head
Geography, History, English
Teacher information
These learning activities meet both the Geography and History syllabus content as well as the cross curricula priority area of Aboriginal Histories and Cultures. Students will explore the Country of the GuriNgai Peoples, take a closer look at a midden site visit a local engraving site and see grinding grooves. Students will find out what kinds of Aboriginal sites you might find at Bobbin Head. You can always book an excursion with Gibberagong to learn more about our Aboriginal sites in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Non-digital Lesson: Not online? Download the lesson here.
Acknowledgment of Country: Watch Lea sharing a special Acknowledgment of Country in local language.
Aboriginal sites at Bobbin Head.mp4Explore three different Aboriginal sites found at Bobbin Head!
Site 1: Grinding grooves
These grooves have been created by sharpening rock tools on the sandstone.
Axes and knives were among the stone tools that would be sharpened here by local Aboriginal people.
The stone tools were rubbed back and forward in the groove until it was sharp.
Natural stone bowl
Did you notice the natural stone bowl that is holding water next to the grooves?
The water helps to keep the stone tools cool and wet as they are being sharpened.
Task 1: Grinding Grooves ... Let's get grinding!
Find two rocks in your backyard or local environment.
What happens when you rub them together?
How long might it take you to change the shape of the rock?
What tools might be sharpened like this?
Challenge: Use rocks to try to grind some seeds or grains (eg rice) into a flour texture.
Site 2: Rock engraving
Aboriginal rock engravings are not just art, they tell the story of Country. Engravings may be connected to a creation story for that location.
Throughout Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park you can find many Aboriginal rock engravings. This engraving is carved into a sandstone rock platform.
There are two pictures of the same engraving - one has been highlighted with water so the outline can clearly be seen.
Task 2: Your shadow
Take your nature journal outside and look at your shadow on the ground. Answer the following:
How is your shadow similar to the engraving?
What features of your body can you see? What can't you see?
Pro Tip: The shape of your shadow will look different depending on the position of the sun.
Site 3: Midden
This midden site is where the GuriNgai people left the remains of their meals.
When Aboriginal people visited this area, they intentionally left the remains of the food they had eaten as the top layer of the midden pile so that the next people to visit could see what had just been harvested and would choose something else to eat so they didn't over-use the resource.
We would call this a 'sustainable practice' today.
What is found in a midden?
This midden contains mostly oyster shells, but also includes cockle shells and other animal bones.
Middens often have remnants of tools such as stone knives and shell fish hooks, so they are an important historical connection to our Aboriginal past.
Task 3: What is the story?
The contents of a midden site tells a story of what was eaten by people at that time.
Look at the photos below of a midden site located within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. What can you see?
Write a story about discovering a midden site and what the people of that time were eating. Make sure you mention how you looked after the site so you didn’t damage anything!
Task 4: Tell somebody
Make a sign or a poster. Include information about why Aboriginal sites are important and the things we can do to protect them. Hint: Look at the 360° photo above for ideas.
Consider:
Why is it special?
How might we care for this place?
