Post by Imogen Wegman

Reposting my #introduction since I've moved over to @hcommons.social

Um, hullo?

I'm a historian (or #histodons, adorable) on the small(ish) island of #Tasmania, at the bottom of Australia. I grew up here and occasionally like to go awandering, but do so love this island a lot.

I research colonial landscapes, particularly in the early years of a colony – I'm interested in how colonisers interpreted the land and adapted to it. Most of my work so far has looked at Tasmania, but I'm starting to branch out. I am a teeny bit of a map nerd, and am keen to find my fellow #HGIS and #GIS friends out here.

And this is one of my favourite maps, purely for the details on the illustration. #mapmonstermonday ain't got nothing on the wild creatures of Tasmania.

Tas Archives, AF396/1/114

Nineteenth century map of an estate, showing a long property painted green and decorated with little trees. In the top left is an illustration, with the title "Plan of an Estate the property of J. Beamont Esq, New Town". This illustration is expanded and described in the next image.

ALT

This is the illustration from the top left of the full map. A tree has been drawn, with various creatures running up and down the branches. At the bottom, a forked-tail hog looks up the tree, with the outline of a monkey running down the opposite side of the trunk. Hanging from the branches at the top is a skeletal monkey/possum/thing. A man is halfway up the tree, leaning back against a branch and aiming a rifle at the skeletal creature. On the ground, the outline of a scarecrow or person stands watching with a pipe in its mouth.

ALT

0 0 0 View Post & Replies See Original