I have found many burnt scars here and they seem to fall into 3 different varieties. The most common seems to be the possum trees…where a smoky fire is set at the base of the hollow trunk to force possums or other inhabitants upwards and out natural or cut holes into the arms or net of a waiting hunter. Very few possums live out here now but back in the day they were very highly valued for their meat but mostly for their skins which were sewn into cloaks for winter warmth. The other common scar burning is where the burnt wood is rubbed off to collect charcoal for the treatment of wounds and some other cultural practices . The third form of burning seems to be a kind of branding of scars to communicate a message or maybe even if in the removal of bark the axe wielder cut too deep into the heartwood and has burnt the patch to stop grubs or disease taking hold ? As usual…many questions very few answers…
