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Lake Mungo
Archaeological findings in the Willandra Lakes Region
Viewer advice
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this StoryMap contains images of the archaeological remains of Ancient Aboriginal peoples. It may also contain the voices of deceased Ancient Aboriginal peoples.
Historical context
Lake Mungo is a site where significant archaeological remains were uncovered and have allowed scientists, such as archaeologists, to draw conclusions about the way of life for Aboriginal people who lived over 40,000 years ago.
Where is Lake Mungo?
Lake Mungo
Lake Mungo is located in the Willandra Lakes Region in south-western New South Wales. This region is the traditional home of the Barkindji, Nyiaamaa and Mutthi people.
Lake Mungo itself lies about 760 kilometres west of Sydney and is now a dry lake bed, without water. It is one of several lake beds in the region.
The lake is now the centre of Mungo National Park.
Changing climates and dried out lakes
The Murray-Darling Basin
Archaeologists and scientists believe that the Willandra Lakes Region was originally inundated by the ocean millions of years ago. The lakes were formed about 400,000 years ago, when the oceans receded from these areas.
The low-lying area of the Willandra Lakes landscape still received water to the region from rivers and streams after the oceans receded. This is because the Willandra Lakes Region is situated in the Murray-Darling Basin, the world's most complex river system.
Lake Mungo
However, the Willandra Lakes are in an environment that geologists refer to as a depositional environment. This means that as erosion in other areas occurred over the years, the prevailing westerly winds and rivers transported sediment - like sand and clay - to the lakes, which eventually filled the lake beds.
This deposition, paired with the hotter and drier climates of inner Australia led to the lake beds to dry up about 14,000 years ago.
In your own words, explain how Lake Mungo dried up.
A debate over what to do next with Australia's oldest human remains
The excavation of Mungo Man by Australian National University's archaeologists resulted in his remains being transported 800 kilometres east to Canberra. It was at the university campus that dating and further study of Mungo Man's remains was carried out, and his remains have been there for over 40 years.
However, the remains will return to traditional owners of the land and of the Willandra Lakes Region. Aboriginal elders have begun discussions to determine Mungo Man's ultimate resting place, with one elder - Roy Kennedy - stating that researchers have "had him for long enough" (McGregor, 2018).
Scientists have expressed their concerns in response to the elders' decisions to bury Mungo Man, which may close off future research. Jim Bowler himself has argued that, "Future [scientific] techniques may become available that will tell us so much more about the story of Mungo Man" (McGregor, 2018).
Consider the information in the three paragraphs above. What is your view of the debate at hand? Remember to be sensitive of other cultures as you explain your perspective.