Star Maps and Travelling to Ceremonies -- the Euahlayi People and Their Use of the Night Sky

TL;DR

This study reveals that the Euahlayi people used star maps in the night sky to learn and remember travel routes, challenging previous assumptions that they did not utilize the night sky for navigation.

Contribution

It uncovers the novel use of star maps by the Euahlayi for learning travel routes, expanding understanding of Aboriginal astronomical practices.

Findings

Euahlayi traveled extensively outside their land for trade and ceremonies.

They used star maps to learn and remember routes, not for navigation.

The practice may be common among other Aboriginal groups.

Abstract

The Euahlayi people are an Australian Aboriginal language group located in north-central New South Wales and south-central Queensland. They have a rich culture of astronomy, and use of the night sky in resource management. Like several other Aboriginal peoples, they did not travel extensively at night, and so were assumed not to use the night sky for navigation. This study has confirmed that they, like most other Aboriginal groups, travelled extensively outside their own country for purposes of trade and ceremonies. We also found that, previously unknown, they used star maps in the night sky for learning and remembering waypoints along their routes of travel, but not for actual navigation. Further research may find that this was common to many Aboriginal groups in Australia.