In the late 1960s to the early 1970s human remains from a Pleistocene site at Lake Mungo Australia were found, which included the remains of a “Mungo Lady” and “Mungo Man” both dated around 42,000 years old.
“Mungo Lady” is the earliest example of human cremation found while the remains of “Mungo Man” were covered in red ochre indicating some ritual or religious significance.
The remains of the individuals indicated they were of a gracile form like modern day humans, but not far from Lake Mungo at Kow Swamp the remains of anatomically more robust individuals which were dated 9,000 – 13,000 years old.
Here is an AI summary of both sites.
This presents a problem as the logical assumption was the initial migration to Australia 65,000 years ago were by the robust type individuals who later evolved into the more gracile form.
The current consensus is that there was no separate migration waves to Australia of peoples of robust and gracile forms or some form of evolutionary reversal, but over time, in-situ diversification—cultural, environmental, biological—led to robust variations in the late Pleistocene.
Here is a video on the Lake Mungo archaeological site including the issues of science clashing with indigenous peoples which is a global issue where excavations are considered desecrations of ancestral sacred sites.
“Mungo Lady” is the earliest example of human cremation found while the remains of “Mungo Man” were covered in red ochre indicating some ritual or religious significance.
The remains of the individuals indicated they were of a gracile form like modern day humans, but not far from Lake Mungo at Kow Swamp the remains of anatomically more robust individuals which were dated 9,000 – 13,000 years old.
Here is an AI summary of both sites.
| Feature | Lake Mungo | Kow Swamp |
|---|---|---|
| Location | South-western New South Wales, within the Willandra Lakes Region (World Heritage-listed) | North-central Victoria, near the Murray River |
| Age of Remains | Approximately 40,000 to 42,000 years ago | Approximately 13,000 to 9,000 years ago |
| Key Discoveries | Mungo Lady (oldest known cremation) and Mungo Man (buried with red ochre) | Over 22 individuals with robust cranial features; evidence of intentional cranial deformation |
| Burial Practices | Complex rituals including cremation and ochre use, indicating early spiritual beliefs | Burials with robust skulls; some evidence suggests artificial cranial deformation, possibly cultural |
| Cranial Morphology | Gracile, anatomically modern human features | Robust features, including thick cranial bones and receding foreheads; debates on archaic traits vs. deformation |
| Cultural Significance | Provides earliest evidence of ritualistic burial practices in Australia | Offers insights into population diversity and cultural practices in late Pleistocene Australia |
This presents a problem as the logical assumption was the initial migration to Australia 65,000 years ago were by the robust type individuals who later evolved into the more gracile form.
The current consensus is that there was no separate migration waves to Australia of peoples of robust and gracile forms or some form of evolutionary reversal, but over time, in-situ diversification—cultural, environmental, biological—led to robust variations in the late Pleistocene.
Here is a video on the Lake Mungo archaeological site including the issues of science clashing with indigenous peoples which is a global issue where excavations are considered desecrations of ancestral sacred sites.
