February 4, 2018 4:46 pm
But don’t be put off by that fact, this is a fabulous place to spend a few days exploring what is a very special place to three Aboriginal tribal groups, the Paakantji / Barkindji, Ngyiampaa and Mutthi people.
These people have walked this land for close to 50,000 years.
Yes, 50,000 years…!
To put some context to that, they only started building the pyramids about 5,000 years ago, and Christian’s celebrated the arrival of Jesus Christ just over 2,000 years ago.
And in more contemporary history of Australia, Captain Cook landed at Botany Bay less than 250 years ago.
Life would have been substantially different when the waters were teaming with fish and the land abundant with food sources. And remarkably, evidence of this era has been enshrined in the “Mungo Lunette” and uncovered by the moving sand dunes in this windswept land.
A Lunette is a crescent-shaped sand dune similar in outline to the first quarter of the Moon. The Mungo Lunette is also known as the “Walls of China”.
I visited the region recently with the hope of photographing the “Super Red Blue Moon” that rose in the skies on 31 January, the prospect of capturing a photograph of a remarkable event over the Walls of China proving irresistible to me.
The Walls of China is where the remains of “Mungo Lady” an aboriginal women of some 18 years of age was discovered in the late 1960s. Her discovery and subsequent removal from her “spiritual home” by archaeologists’ was not without controversy, especially for the aboriginal people from this region.
Mungo Woman was eventually returned home to rest in country by her people and similarly, Mungo Man, whose remains were removed from his resting place has also made the journey home to country.
Scientists’ estimated that Mungo Man walked this land over 40,000 years ago.
It was against this cultural backdrop that I stood alone at the Mungo Lunette, a number of camera’s at hand to capture this remarkable lunar event.
But it wasn’t too be as cloud cover “eclipsed” my view of the moon as it rose over this ancient land.
Looking to the west, the sky was ablaze as a fiery sun cast its final rays into a darkening night sky…
I closed my eyes and let my mind drift and wondered if the spirits of those who had walked this land were sitting around the glow of this eternal fire, breathing life to this place of Haunting Beauty…
Photo’s: Baz – The Landy, Mungo National Park, Outback Australia
Posted by XPLORE - Out and About
Categories: Outback Australia
Tags: adventure travel, Australia, Australian Outback, camping, inspiration, motivation, mungo man, mungo national park, mungo woman, photography, willandra lakes world heritage area
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Have always subscribed to you but never commented. A simple thank you that was good. We were there few years back for 2 short days on our way to Meenindie and further north. I always enjoy your photography. Cheers bass
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By Warren Bassee on February 5, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Thanks Bass, a pleasure and glad you enjoy the photographs! Cheers, Baz
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By Baz - The Landy on February 5, 2018 at 5:00 pm
love this ancient story
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By Maureen Sudlow on February 5, 2018 at 8:05 am
Me too…!
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By Baz - The Landy on February 5, 2018 at 3:00 pm
What a beautiful and spiritual place, Baz! So you had clouds obscuring your moon viewing as well.
Kennewick Man was a controversy over here. He was finally returned to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, and the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids and buried according to custom.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennewick_Man
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By Lavinia Ross on February 5, 2018 at 6:51 am
Hi Lavinia, yes totally obscured. Mind you, the sun and moon control a lot of weather on earth, so no surprises that significant lunar events can cause adverse weather…! And the Mungo Woman and Man story is fascinating. I spent some time discussing the issue with one of the Elder’s on this trip. She appeared in a television documentary on it recently…Cheers, Baz
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By Baz - The Landy on February 5, 2018 at 7:39 am
Sad that you didn’t catch the moon, Baz, but what a fantastic place to visit anyway!
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By Linda Visman - wangiwriter on February 4, 2018 at 9:06 pm
Would have been nice, but hey, enjoyed myself greatly…Cheers, Baz
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By Baz - The Landy on February 4, 2018 at 9:34 pm
this whole thing is simply stunning – we are newcomers toour lands when compared – beautiful –
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By ksbeth on February 4, 2018 at 8:34 pm
Mere fledglings we are, ain’t that the truth, hey! Trust you are well, Cheers Baz
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By Baz - The Landy on February 4, 2018 at 8:50 pm
you live in such an amazing and beautiful country :] thanks again for sharing it with me :}
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By Barbara Grandberg on February 4, 2018 at 6:11 pm
It’s always such a pleasure to have you along for the ride BG. And when I get a coffee table book finished you’re getting number 1…! Take care Baz
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By Baz - The Landy on February 4, 2018 at 8:55 pm