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Mungo Man and Woman



A crescent-shaped dune, called the Walls of China, stretches along the eastern shore of the dried up lakebed of Lake Mungo. Erosion by wind and water leaves behind a landscape of outcrops and shifting sand revealing ancient fossils and evidence of the aboriginal inhabitants of long ago when the water flowed.

In 1969, the remains of a cremated skeleton of a human were found, later to be known as Mungo Woman. Six years later, Mungo Man was found buried. Both skeletons are estimated to be 40,000 years old.

It's a photographers paridise and the reason why we drove all this way so there is much more to come over the next week.

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Comments

  1. Megan CoyleJanuary 26, 2010 at 7:31 AM

    Oh wow, what a fascinating place. I like the earthy colors in this image - a beautiful landscape.

    ReplyDelete
  2. myletterstoemilyJanuary 26, 2010 at 2:10 PM

    incredible...can't wait to see more.

    ReplyDelete
  3. freefallingJanuary 26, 2010 at 3:12 PM

    Oh this is really awesome - in the true sense of the word.
    Isn't it interesting how there are a little bush then a mound, little bush then a mound, etc...

    ReplyDelete
  4. ABJanuary 26, 2010 at 7:44 PM

    The dunes make fascinating natural patterns.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SeanJanuary 27, 2010 at 6:06 AM

    I have to say... that top photograph is calling to be black and white.... can you hear it.... de-saturate me.... desaturate me.... contrast me.... make me dark and mysterious.... oooppppsssss.. .forgot I was still typing. Nice shot!

    ReplyDelete
  6. WinamJanuary 27, 2010 at 9:43 AM

    I've heard so much about this place, and it really doesn't disappoint. Will have to go there soon.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Joan ElizabethJanuary 27, 2010 at 8:54 PM

    Sean -- what a good idea. Didn't think of that. I'll give it try.

    ReplyDelete
  8. JulieJanuary 28, 2010 at 9:24 AM

    I would need to have a "lens" transplant to cope with this landscspe, being so used to the cityscape.

    I am not sure that the top image would translate to B&W. Not enough contrast and shape drama, for mine.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Joan ElizabethJanuary 28, 2010 at 9:23 PM

    I'm thinking of posting one or two supplementary shots of Mungo at the end of the trip (ones that didn't make the first cut but on looking at them now I wonder why not). If I do that I will also include a B&W conversion.

    ReplyDelete
  10. MartinaFebruary 1, 2010 at 8:25 AM

    I like the first photo very much - especially because of the earthy colouring. Fascinating.

    ReplyDelete

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