Spear heads, cutting implements,
even ceremonial pieces and like the
human remains, these have excited
archaeologists and anthropologists
for decades. These stoneage items
have provided the scientific commu-
nity with evidence that the ancient
local people had strong cultural be-
lieves that were traded amongst the
local tribes, and further afield. Many
of the ancient items are not local, they
were traded, in many cases with peo-
ples who are from great distances;
The Grampians (460km), the Coorong
(410km), and the Flinders Ranges
(440km), and perhaps further.
These people had a strong sense of
commerce and with that came traded
stories and history, they learnt from
each other and passed on knowledge.
Something the people of the region
have known for an extremely long
time.
The indigenous guides provide a
great insight into the beliefs and his-
tory of their ancient ancestors, it’s an
experience that is well worth the $50
TRAVERSE 61
fee.
The geological history of the area is
just as interesting. Lake Mungo has
seen sediments being deposited for
as long as 120,000 years, the eastern
side of the lake, walled by sand dunes
known as the ‘Walls Of China’, stretch
almost 33 kilometres in length. These
40-metre-high dunes are on the move
and have been for a very long time.
The shifting dunes are what have
covered, protected and now reveal of
the past. There’s perhaps a history
of human existence that we don’t yet
known, that is still to be revealed.
Access to the long since dried lake is
provided by essentially four different
routes, all with differing levels of dif-
ficulty, and like all Australian outback
tracks, it all depends on the weather
and upkeep of the roads.
Riding in from Balranald, the New
South Welsh town on the banks of the
Murrumbidgee River, the road north
(heading to Ivanhoe) is sealed until
the turn off toward the Mungo Nation-
al Park. From here the road quickly