Very little is known in cultural heritage management about the use of trees for material culture items by Traditional Owners in south east Queensland. A collaborative research project was designed and undertaken between a Principal Archaeologist undertaking their PhD with Jagera Daran Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Body as research partners.

The main aim was to understand the Indigenous and archaeological significance of culturally modified trees and the bark/wooden material culture items that are created from tree bark and wood in the area. The project included field work to document and record extant culturally modified trees, interviews with Traditional Owners, archival research and museum visits both in Australia and overseas to understand the wooden artefact assemblages from the area. Analysis of wooden artefacts was completed with a wood technician expert at the British Museum.

This presentation will show the results of the project, including a predictive model of culturally modified trees based on tree species type and use, along with community outcomes such as training of Yagara women rangers and other community members.