Ceremony is an important part of life for the Aboriginal people.  They formed the structure of the way of life and very much a part of law and order.   For these ceremonies the body was painted with ochre or in some cases blood, whilst it was still wet, soft white fluffy feathers were put on the body in small clumps these gave the effect of being dotted on the body.   Instead of the feathers, the body was also often dotted in white ochres which would give a similar effect minus the feathers.

In some of the Arnhem Land paintings figures can be dotted all over, this depicts the light on the water reflecting off the body.