Lake mungo and early occupation
In 1968, geomorphologist1 or geologist at Australian National University Jim Bowler discovered the first hint of human existence at Lake Mungo, 800km from Sydney. He found stone artefacts, mussel shells and later found human bones, a feat which revolutionized the understanding of Indigenous Australian roots and how long they have inhabited Australia. Before, it was estimated that humans settled in Australia for only a few thousand years or less however, these ancient human remains prove that humans have been in Australia longer than in the Americas and Europe.
The first set of bones found were remains of a 19-year-old girl which archeologists named Mungo Lady. The body was cremated2 and then crushed before being buried. It was estimated that the burial took place 24 700 years ago and Mungo Lady is the oldest cremated body known in the world.
The next body was named Mungo Man and he was found in the same area and was covered in ochre3. The man was about 50 years old when he was buried about 28 000 to 32 000 years old. Anthropologist and anatomist, Dr. Alice Roberts was amazed and responded with ““[…] now this is quite extraordinary because it means that modern humans reached Australia before Europe”” on THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN JOURNEY- AUSTRALIA. The burial was near Lake Mungo when it was moister and cooler in western New South Wales and the lake was a huge freshwater lake surrounded by lush greenery.
Other evidence of human existence found at Lake Mungo was over 500 human footprints and they are around 20 000 years old. A particular track made by the footprints belonged to a one legged man who was hunting a giant kangaroo. Giant kangaroos could grow up to 2.5m tall and have been extinct for about 50 000 years. This supports the evidence of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man about how long humans have inhabited Australia.
The first set of bones found were remains of a 19-year-old girl which archeologists named Mungo Lady. The body was cremated2 and then crushed before being buried. It was estimated that the burial took place 24 700 years ago and Mungo Lady is the oldest cremated body known in the world.
The next body was named Mungo Man and he was found in the same area and was covered in ochre3. The man was about 50 years old when he was buried about 28 000 to 32 000 years old. Anthropologist and anatomist, Dr. Alice Roberts was amazed and responded with ““[…] now this is quite extraordinary because it means that modern humans reached Australia before Europe”” on THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN JOURNEY- AUSTRALIA. The burial was near Lake Mungo when it was moister and cooler in western New South Wales and the lake was a huge freshwater lake surrounded by lush greenery.
Other evidence of human existence found at Lake Mungo was over 500 human footprints and they are around 20 000 years old. A particular track made by the footprints belonged to a one legged man who was hunting a giant kangaroo. Giant kangaroos could grow up to 2.5m tall and have been extinct for about 50 000 years. This supports the evidence of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man about how long humans have inhabited Australia.
1Geomorphologist- Is the occupation for the study of landforms and the process that took to make them
2Cremated- the act of already being burnt
3Orchre- a yellow to deep brown coloured pigment
2Cremated- the act of already being burnt
3Orchre- a yellow to deep brown coloured pigment