Vanshdeep Singh
Class : 7F
SOURCE ANALYSIS
My chosen source:
Question
What is the source?
Who created it?
When was it created?
Where was it created?
Who was the source made for:
Why was the source created:
Answer
This source is classified as an visual
archaeological source.
The creator of the source is unknown
The date of when the source was created is
unknown though the picture shows that this
hearth was used approximately 32000 years
ago.
This source was established in Lake Mungo,
Western NSW.
The source was established to educate
history enthusiasts or the general public
about the life of Aborginal Indigenous tribe
members and how they were enabled to
utilise natural resources such as stone for
firepits. These practices emphasis how
advanced the indigenous civilizations were
in safely cooking their meals and also show
a sense of warmth for families during the
winter months.
The source was created to visually show
individuals how the firepits looked and to
give a sense of realistic imagination as to
how they were potentially used. The source
may also be used to distinguish between
Vanshdeep Singh
Class : 7F

the different types of fire pits as there were

three different types found in Willandra
lakes regions, first of which were formed
using a thin layer of burnt charcoal, others
were made of baked clay lumps and the
third type were made from capping termite
nests.

What does the source tell The source focalises on the life of Ancient
us about life for Ancient Aboriginals 32000 years ago in Wilandra
Aboriginals in Willandra Lakes drawing light towards their lifestyle
Lakes? and survival choices. The hearth (fireplace)
portrays how these fireplaces were served
as locations for cooking. The source also
entails the distinguishing factor between
different types of fireplaces set during the
time for their own specific purpose. The first
fireplaces were formed using a thin layer of
burnt charcoal, others were made of baked
clay lumps. These clay clamps were used to
create more heat for cooking larger
proportions of foods such as kangaroos.
The third type were made from capping
termite nests which was the most common
form of firepits within the Willandra Lakes
region.

The source also portrays individually

shaped stones that suggest that the tribe
members ultilised them in more than one
way. For example the recognisable stone
tools such as hatchets could be used to
recarve meat before cooking.

SOURCE ANALYSIS
Vanshdeep Singh
Class : 7F
My chosen source:
Question
What is the source?
Who created it?
When was it created?
Who was the source made for:
Where was it created?
Why was the source created:
Answer
The source is classified as a written source
taken from a website (National Geographic,
07/11/2017).
The extract was written by ABBY SEWELL
who is a journalist working for the national
geographic organisation.
The extract was published on NOVEMBER
7, 2017
The source was made for
historians,students and archaeologists as
they are most likely to benefit from reading
this extensive information about the
geological significance of Lake Willandra.
The written source may also spark the
interest of biologists and ecologists as it
contains vital information of animal species
and various floras that inhibit the land.
The source was created on national
geographic website.
The source was created to inform and
educate individuals on the diverse range of
flora and fauna within the Willandra lakes
region. The source also draws upon the
archaological aspects of the region as it
establishes the various stones and skeletal
Vanshdeep Singh
Class : 7F
What does the source tell
us about life for Ancient
Aboriginals in Willandra
Lakes?
Describe how Aboriginal peoples lived in the Willandra
Lakes region during ancient times.
structures prevalent within the area.
The written source tells us about the
prosprous region within the Willandra lakes
region as there are a vast variety of flora
and fauna such as small sucalypt shrubs,
herbs and grass whilst also containing vital
animal life such as bats, amphibians,
reptiles and parrots. These forms of easily
accessible food sources show that the
ancient Willandra tribe members did not
struggle to meet their nutritional needs. The
source also mentions that there was once
lake beds within the area which allows the
assumption that water was also easily
accessible for the indigenous members.
It could also be drawed upon that the 460
fossilized human footprints showcase the
area to be once prevalent in population
suggesting an inclusive environment to live
and survive in. Perhaps close connections
were strong amongs tribe members.
Vanshdeep Singh
Class : 7F

The aboriginal people 32,000 years ago within the Willandra lakes region lived a prosperous
and fruitful life as investigated through the two sources. Source A focuses on the life of
Ancient Aboriginals by drawing light towards their lifestyle and survival choices. The hearth
(fireplace) portrays how these fireplaces were served as locations for cooking. Firepits had a
distinguishing factor between themself as they were specifically used for particular cooking
methods. The first fireplaces were formed using a thin layer of burnt charcoal, others were
made of baked clay lumps. These clay clamps were used to create more heat for cooking
larger proportions of foods such as kangaroos. The third type was made from capping
termite nests which was the most common form of fire pits within the Willandra Lakes region.
Beyond cooking practices shaped stones were also conducive to methods for recarving
meat before cooking. For example the recognisable stone tools such as hatchets could be
used to recarve kangaroo meat before cooking. Firepits were also representative of warmth
as indigenous people used these firepits to strengthen themself during the winter months in
Australia. The visual source also shows the various shaped stones that can be utilised to
hunt animals and to cut them into smaller pieces, for example they can be used as tips of
hunting spears as it can do more damage then just using wood The written source tells us
about the prosperous region within the Willandra lakes region as there are a vast variety of
flora and fauna such as small sucalypt shrubs, herbs and grass whilst also containing vital
animal life such as bats, amphibians, reptiles and parrots. These forms of easily accessible
food sources show that the ancient Willandra tribe members did not struggle to meet their
nutritional needs. The source also mentions that there were once lake beds within the area
which allows the assumption that water was also easily accessible for the indigenous
members. It could also be drawn upon that the 460 fossilised human footprints showcase the
area to be once prevalent in population suggesting an inclusive environment to live and
survive in. Perhaps close connections were strong amongs tribe members. Therefore, both
the visual and written sources provide insights into the way of life of the indigenous tribe
members, as they effectively showcase how they cooked food, hunted animals, utilised
resources to survive and lived harmoniously in large populations.

References

1. 1968: Remains of Mungo Lady found. 2022. Mungo Lady. [online] Available
at: <https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/search-people> [Accessed 22
May 2022].
Vanshdeep Singh
Class : 7F

2. Hitchcock, D., 2020. Mungo Man. [online] Donsmaps.com. Available at:

<https://www.donsmaps.com/mungo.html> [Accessed 20 May 2022].

3. Staff.mq.edu.au. 2022. Lake Mungo Willandra Lakes. [online] Available at:

<https://staff.mq.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/866961/Lake-Mungo-
sources-stone-artefacts,-middens-and-fireplaces.pdf> [Accessed 23 May
2022].

4. Time. 2020. When Did Humans Discover Fire?. [online] Available at:
<https://time.com/5295907/discover-fire/> [Accessed 26 May 2022].