Film Screening: Message from Mango Seminar

Film screening: Message from Mungo

Lake Mungo is an ancient Pleistocene lake-bed in south-western New South Wales, and is one of the world’s richest archaeological sites. MESSAGE FROM MUNGO focuses on the interface over the last 40 years between the scientists on one hand, and, on the other, the Indigenous communities who identify with the land and with the human remains revealed at the site. This interface has often been deeply troubled and contentious, but within the conflict and its gradual resolution lies a moving story of the progressive empowerment of the traditional custodians of the area.

The film was made over an 8 year period and focuses on one particular archaeological find – the human remains discovered in 1968 known generally as “Mungo Lady”. The remains belong to a young woman who had been given a formal ritual of cremation. In 1992, after much pressure from Indigenous groups, the remains of Mungo Lady were handed back to the Indigenous custodians. This hand-back ceremony was a turning point in the relationship between scientists and the local tribal groups.

In addition to the film screening, Ann will be giving a full lecture the day before as part of the History seminar series – details below:

Tuesday 8 November

4-6pm (65/2115)

'The Sovereignty of Intermarriage: the United States and Australia in early national periods'

Professor McGrath will be speaking to her well-received recent book, Illicit Love: Interracial Sex and Marriage in the United States and Australia (University of Nebraska Press, 2015), which explores the experience and management of interracial relationships between indigenous and colonizing peoples in the Atlantic and Pacific world during the colonial period.

For more details please click here.

All are very welcome to attend both events.