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Overview. The archaeological excavations found the incomplete remains of two people (a young male and an older female).
Problems. Unfortunately, the flooding that first uncovered the bodies, also damaged the burial site. Most of the upper half of each of the bodies were washed away. It was further disturbed by the police who thought initially that the bodies belonged to people who had recently died.
Burial. The two bodies were thought to be buried next to each other with their heads towards the nearby creek.
Sue Feary, archaeologist at the site, described her experiences:
"By the time we got to the site, following flooding and some pretty rough forensic work by the police, all the human bones had been collected and sent to the coroner by the police. It took some persuasion to get them back and mixed in among them were scraping implements made from kangaroo jaws, bone points and various other tools that were probably once all together in a dilly bag.
There were very few human bones, all post-cranial [any bones that are not the skull] and all we can say is that they were probably buried together with their heads towards the creek. We also don't know whether it was a primary or secondary burial. If the former, one or other individual may have had the necklace around their neck. When the flood disturbed the grave, somehow the kangaroo teeth dropped into the sediment which is where we found them by sieving. If the latter, they may have been in the dilly bag with all the other grave goods, buried at feet of the people, hence not washed away."
Primary Burial
Primary Burial
Where the body is placed in the ground and buried. This is where it stays.
Secondary Burial
Secondary Burial
The bones of the person are collected and reburied in the ground or a cavity somewhere else.
Location
Location
The exact location of the finds has not been disclosed to the public. This is primarily due to the Ngarigo Nation rightly wanting to protect the area from people who might wish in someway to disturb the site.
On the map you can see the approximate location (Rock Flat Creek near Bunyan).
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