Hearth, in form of an Australian native Shield of thick soft wood, curved in front, with sunken hand-hold at back; surface covered all over, both back and front, with red ochre

Hearth, in form of an Australian native Shield of thick soft wood (24 3/4 x 7 3/4 ins), curved in front, with sunken hand-hold at back; surface covered all over, both back and front, with red ochre; has been used many times with a spear-thrower for making fire, and shows five or six transverse saw-channels near each end. Central Australia.