Tharawal people | |
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aka: Dharawal, Darawal, Carawal, Turawal, Thurawal, Thurrawal, Thurrawall, Turu-wal, Turuwul, Turrubul, Turuwull Tharawal (AIATSIS), nd (SIL) |
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Sydney Basin bioregion
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Hierarchy | |
Language family: | Pama–Nyungan |
Language branch: | Yuin–Kuric |
Language group: | Yora |
Group dialects: | Tharawal |
Area | |
Bioregion: | Sydney Basin |
Location: | Sydney and Illawarra, New South Wales |
Coordinates: | 34°S 151°E / 34°S 151°ECoordinates: 34°S 151°E / 34°S 151°E |
Rivers | Georges and Shoalhaven |
Notable individuals |
The Tharawal people (also spelled Dharawal, Darawal, Carawal, Turawal, Thurawal, Thurrawal, Thurrawall, Turu-wal, Turuwul, Turrubul, Turuwull), a group of indigenous people of Australia, are those Australian Aborigines that are united by a common language, strong ties of kinship and survived as skilled hunter–fisher–gatherers in family groups or clans scattered along the coastal area of what is now known as the Sydney basin, in New South Wales, Australia. Their traditional territory spreads from the south of Sydney Harbour, through Georges River, Botany Bay, Port Hacking, throughout the Illawarra Escarpment, and across areas now known as the Macarthur, Southern Highlands, and Illawarra regions, as far south as the Shoalhaven River.
The Gweagal were also known as the "Fire Clan". They were the people to first make contact with Captain Cook.
The Tharawal (or Dharawal) language is considered the main dialect of the Tharawal people.
The historical artwork (rock engravings) of the Tharawal people is visible on the sandstone surfaces throughout their language area and charcoal and ochre paintings, drawings and hand stencils can be found on hundreds of rock surfaces and in the many dozens of rock shelters and overhangs in that area of land. There is a public viewing site of one group of engravings at Jibbon Point. Those engravings are marred by recent European inclusions. The original Jibbon point engravings (pecked and abraided petroglyphs) show a pod of killer whales hunting a seal. The leading whale is shown as a scarified and initiated animal indicating his status as a totemic spirit of high esteem.