Let Lake Mungo speak to the future

The question of what to do with the ancient remains of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady is a sensitive one. When the undoubted scientific value of these remains is raised – their discovery rewrote the prehistory of Australia – many people inevitably cast their minds back to the days of European empire when the remains of native people were sometimes callously plundered and expatriated in the name of science. But that shameful history is in the past, and we must decide the fate of the Lake Mungo remains now with a broad, enlightened view – and as a united nation.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has opted for reburial of the remains in unmarked graves at locations and depths supposed to minimise decay and to allow for future recovery should that be allowed by Indigenous representatives. If this goes ahead, the likelihood is that the remains will be lost to future science. The geologist who found the remains, Jim Bowler, has described this plan as an “absolute degradation” of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area in western NSW.

This is easily presented as a clash of incommensurable values between a timeless Indigenous order and the instrumental world of science and technology. But it is more complex than that.

Ms Ley cites in support of her decision the view of the Aboriginal Advisory Group, which she characterises as “effectively elected members from the three tribal groups” of the region. But, as the minister concedes, there is dissent within that group. And as Paul Garvey reported in The Australian on Thursday, there is talk of court action on behalf of an Aboriginal community, no longer part of the advisory group, to stop the reburial and ensure the remains are interred in a “keeping place”, enabling future research. There is no monolithic Aboriginal position, just as non-Aboriginal Australians no doubt will be divided between unmarked reburial and preservation for science. We also have to keep in mind the possible opinions of future generations.

Seen with this more expansive view, the better choice would be the “keeping place”. Future science that we can only guess at now may find important new insights in the Lake Mungo remains. There is no disrespect in this because ultimately these remains are the patrimony of Australia, past, present and future. In unmarked graves, the powerful educative voice of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady would be silenced. Greater understanding of deep Indigenous history serves the interests of all Australians.