Fig. 2: Aboriginal women use pavements to thresh seed using different methods. | Nature Ecology & Evolution

Fig. 2: Aboriginal women use pavements to thresh seed using different methods.

From: First Peoples’ knowledge leads scientists to reveal ‘fairy circles’ and termite linyji are linked in Australia

Fig. 2: Aboriginal women use pavements to thresh seed using different methods.

a, Martu co-author Thelma Judson and Wirnta Williams rub Kalpari (Dysphania kalpari) seed against the hard linyji surface to separate seed from chaff (screenshot from video by J. Walsh, 1988; https://vimeo.com/399035889; photo © Fiona Walsh). b, Hand stones left on a linyji by Martu ancestors during pre-colonial times. The sand marks are from Martu people in 1987 who demonstrated seed threshing motions for which the stones were used (photo © Fiona Walsh). c, Martu elder Nganyinytja Lewis uses feet and pole to thresh seed in a pit96 (photo by T. and B. Blake, 1987, © Ara Irititja Archive Nos AI-0081679; see video Putu for Wangunu = Pavement for Seed Food; https://vimeo.com/654072562 and https://vimeo.com/539494391). d, The painting titled ‘Watanuma’ (edible flying termites) (2008) by Pintupi woman Wintjiya Napaltjarri illustrates different associations with termites and pavements in synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 151.2 × 182.0 cm. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. © estate of the artist, licensed by Papunya Tula Artists and Aboriginal Artists Agency. Further interpretations of c and d are provided in Supplementary Fig. 2. All images in this figure are covered by Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND.

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