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What is the history of the Australian Aboriginal songlines?
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The Australian Aboriginal songlines are an ancient system of knowledge and storytelling that has been passed down through generations since before recorded history. This system is said to encompass the entire continent of Australia and to connect each Aboriginal nation to its land, its people, creation story, sacred sites and animals that are found there. It is said to have been formed from the dreamtime stories of the ancestors who passed down their knowledge in the form of stories, songs, and dances to the generations of their offspring. These sacred songs and stories tell of routes across the land that carry the spiritual and emotional significance of the landscape for the Aboriginal people. These songlines define their culture, spirituality, Dreamtime beliefs and history, providing an oral map that is still being passed down today.