Mungo Man remains ‘must not be lost’

The scientist who traced the origin of Europe’s neolithic Iceman Oetzi says Australia should follow the example of Iceman’s burial by reburying Mungo Man in a respectful keeping place.

Jim Bowler, the geologist who first found the remains of Mungo Man. Picture: Aaron Francis

The scientist who traced the origin of Europe’s neolithic Iceman Oetzi says Australia should follow the example of Iceman’s burial by reburying Mungo Man and other ancient Aboriginal skeletons in a respectful keeping place.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley is due to announce soon if she will allow the bones of Mungo Man to be reburied within the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. The Mungo Man remains are Australia’s oldest and the discovery in 1974 rewrote the nation’s prehistory.

The NSW government ­requires federal ministerial sign-off to go ahead with the reburial plans, which it claims are in line with traditional owner wishes to return them to the earth after decades of research.

Mungo Man’s finder, professor Jim Bowler, says putting the remains in unmarked graves at 26 sites is “shameful”, robbing the world of further research and a proper monument to those first Australians.

“We have to seek a compromise to create a reburial that is a moment of celebration on a ­national scale, not one covered in a veil of secrecy,” he said.

Forensic geochemist Wolfgang Muller, who used isotopes in tiny teeth fragments to identify the birthplace of Iceman – found in The Alps in 1991 – said the important human mummy had been entombed in his home valley in the Tyrol region, in a purpose-built tomb.

“It showcases the archaeological context very well, co-ordinates research, but also represents a tourist attraction and a focal point for the local community,” he said.

Professor Muller has previously worked with Aboriginal groups to identify the birthplace of Indigenous people whose skeletons were returned to Australia from overseas museums.

He said the 40,000-year-old Mungo Lakes skeletal remains should not be buried “in an uncontrolled, secret manner” in unmarked graves.

“It would render them meaningless, both for the local people as well as, on a global scale, those interested in finding out more about our species’ past,” he said.

“The Willandra remains are of crucial relevance to Aboriginal history and to the settlement of the continent of Australia. We need to do our utmost to support the local Aboriginal communities to keep these remains safe for them.”

Professor Bowler and a team of archaeologists unearthed Mungo Man after he spotted human bones protruding from the dry lake surface in 1974. Professor Bowler also found the remains of Mungo Lady in 1968.

Research determined that the pair were modern homo sapiens who had been buried in elaborate funeral rituals, including evidence of one of the world’s earliest cremations.

Professor Bowler said he understood Ms Ley was “in a bind” because different Aboriginal community elders were unable to agree on the best form of reinterment.

“I hope she will invite them to get together and seek consensus on what to do with their ancestral remains,” he said.

“I’m optimistic she will seek a compromise.”