Originally Posted by just_the_scraps_m'am
beautiful handwork for such a sad time. i am curious as to the origin of "earth" blanket...?
An earth blanket was made by some Australian Aboriginal groups to wrap a dead person in. Some bodies were placed in particular trees, others in sacred places.
The blankets were made of possum skin, bark or kangaroo hides. Some were marked, others were left plain.
Now, some decorate the coffin with handprints, symbols, emu feathers etc.