Mungo Man returned to ancestral home where he died 40,000 years ago

Traditional owners say the return of the remains of the historic Mungo Man, who was removed by scientists from his resting place more than 40 years ago, will provide closure and is a step toward reconciliation.

More than four decades ago anthropologists removed the ancient skeleton of an Aboriginal man — the discovery of which rewrote Australian history.

Now he has been returned home to his descendants, travelling for days in a hearse from Canberra.

Traditional owners hosted a welcome home ceremony attended by hundreds to celebrate the historic return of the 42,000-year-old remains of Mungo Man to his original resting place.

"Today is one of those catalytic moments that we need to enhance Australian society, and bring empathy into, understanding the Aboriginal culture," said Paakantyi man Michael Young, who is also a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Group for Mungo Man's return.

"The delays and everything are now forgotten because today is the time to move on.

"So I thank everybody who was involved in this momentous occasion."

Ngiyampaa elder Aunty Joan Slade added: "[It is] so good to have him back after all those years he has been taken away, and we've been waiting all those years to get him back and I'm so glad he is back, to put him in his resting place."

In the spirit of unity, all those gathered at the ceremony, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, were invited to take part in a traditional dance to welcome home Mungo Man.

Who was Mungo Man?

In 1974, anthropologists found the fossil in Mungo National Park in south-west New South Wales, north of Mildura. He was quickly dubbed Mungo Man.

Scientists concluded he was about 170cm tall, about 50 years of age with severe arthritis, and had lived in the time of mega flora and fauna.

But it was the way he was buried that intrigued scientists and suggested he was a man respected and admired by his community.

Mungo Man was buried with his limbs stretched out, his hands crossed across his groin and was covered in ochre that had been brought from more than 200 kilometres away.

It was some of the earliest uncovered evidence of ritualistic burial in the world, and proved that early Aboriginal Australians had a robust belief and burial system — around the same time as Neanderthals were roaming Europe.

Removed from country

After his remains were uncovered he was moved to Australian National University in Canberra where he was kept for about 40 years.

It was during this time that scientists were able to find out more about him, and prove how long Aboriginal Australians had been living on the continent.

Traditional owners said his removal caused local Aboriginal groups great pain.

Today three different Aboriginal groups have connections to country around Lake Mungo — the Muthi Muthi, Nygiampa and Paakantji people.

"We know as Aboriginal people that we need to bring our ancestors home, and take care of them. We should be the custodians," Mr Young said.

Geologist Jim Bowler found Mungo Man and said the profound scientific discoveries could not have taken place if he was not moved.

"Our removal of remains and taking them to the university was seen by Aboriginal people as a totally unjustifiable," he told RN's Awaye.

"The Aboriginal people voiced their objection, we were intruding into their history, not our history.

"The story of people … the human components needed to be recorded, and if that meant brushing away some of the sand and removing the bones, I think that was an essential component of the land we live in."

No final resting place

While many are celebrating the historic return of Mungo Man, there are major concerns there is still no final resting place for him.

"What we would like to see is a keeping place, where all the fellas that have come back home — the repatriated — would then be kept at a keeping place," Mr Young said.

Mr Bowler said state and federal governments should do more to create a respectful final place of rest.

"[It is] a great celebration this event, as he returns to country, [but] there is also a great sadness that in 43 years and despite great pressure on New South Wales and federal governments there is still no proper memorial place," he said.

"He needs a major memorial, a major identification of his iconic status. In the pages of earliest Australian history his name stands out, and we have failed to make a final resting place for a historic remains."