Lake Bolac stone arrangement facts for kids
The Lake Bolac stone arrangement is a very old and special place near the town of Lake Bolac in Victoria, Australia. It's a site where Aboriginal people gathered for important ceremonies long ago. Some of the stones were moved when a road, now called the Glenelg Highway, was built.
Contents
What is the Lake Bolac Stone Arrangement?
This amazing site has basalt stones arranged in two lines. People say the way the stones are placed looks like a giant eel. Eels were very important to the Aboriginal people in this area.
What Do the Stones Look Like?
The stones at Lake Bolac are different sizes. They range from about 30 centimeters (about the length of a ruler) to 150 centimeters (taller than many kids). Some of these stones might have been placed upright in holes in the ground.
Who Built These Stone Arrangements?
Experts believe the Lake Bolac stone arrangement was built by Aboriginal people. This is because it doesn't look like anything built by European settlers. Also, there was no record or story from European families who owned the land that they had built it.
Another similar site, called Wurdi Youang, also shows this pattern. These sites are important clues about the ancient history of Aboriginal people in Australia.
Why Were Eels So Important?
Eels were a very important food source for Aboriginal people. Lake Bolac was famous for its many high-quality eels. When the autumn rains came, the eels would leave the lake and travel down the river to the sea.
This was a special time. Aboriginal people from far away would gather at Lake Bolac to catch the eels. This gathering was also a chance for different groups to meet, share stories, and hold ceremonies.
The Lake Bolac Eel Festival Today
Today, the Lake Bolac Eel Festival is a modern community event. It's a music and art festival held every autumn. It takes place on the shore of Lake Bolac.
The festival is inspired by the long history of the area. It celebrates the fact that Lake Bolac was a traditional gathering place for Indigenous people for thousands of years before European settlement. It helps people remember and respect this important cultural heritage.
