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Kanangra—Boyd wilderness; both are can be captured alive. But then,how If the appearance of Kulta as of the three-toed variety and resemble does one go about capturing a live, 50- described in the ancient folklore of the those of Muttaburrasaurus and tonne or so carnivorous killing Central Australian tribes is correct, Tyrannosaurus. Yet the volcanic ash machine? then Kulta could best be described as and mud in which they were laid dates a member of the Sauropoda, that to late Pleiocene times—a mere three KULTA, AHUGE FOUR-LEGGED family of Triassic Reptilia which million years ago—and not REPTILE contained some of the best-known Cretaceous times of 66 million years | Central Australian Aboriginal dinosaurs: Austrosaurus, ago when they are supposed to have folklore preserves the remarkable tale Rhoetosaurus, Apatosaurus and become extinct! of Kulta, the giant "serpent" that lived _ others. The tribespeople of this region and in the swamps and watercourses of the | Among the tribes of Groote Eylandt elsewhere across the Blue Mountains, far north when all the land of that part in the Gulf of Carpentaria, there west of Sydney, spoke about giant of Australia was a lush jungle- and were—or still are—widespread myths bipedal reptiles of dinosaur swamp-covered region. which describe huge reptilian appearance, which they called Kulta hada small head at the end of creatures including lizards and even Watthuk Muggadung, to early a long narrow neck, which was snakes, all of which lived in European settlers hereabouts in the attached to an enormously bulky body _ waterholes. 19th century. supported by four great legs. It moved The Aborigines were afraid to It is obvious that these reptiles were about the swamps and landscape with approach these waterholes for fear of alive in the Pleistocene (Ice Age) its long pointed tail sticking out the beasts, and always performed period and therefore survived into _ behind it. ceremonies in the hope of pleasing Aboriginal times. However, the way _ It is said that Kulta was so long that these monsters so that they might be the Aborigines spoke, these reptiles if it were to enter a forest its head _ safe to go near the waterholes. were either not all that long extinct or would project from one end and its tail else might still exist in those wilds. It from the other. Kulta lived upon plant ABORIGINAL MYTHS OR TRUE would appear that some still do. life in the forests and swamps. STORIES? It has been suggested that these — The tribespeople feared Kulta and The early Australian Aborigines reptiles could be a form of Jguanodon regarded the creature with great awe. certainly described in detail saurian- similar to Muttaburrasaurus, unless of Whenever Kulta moved about the type reptilian monsters centuries course it is a Tyrannosaurus species. countryside, the ground shook with its before they ever had access to white Only the discovery of the skeleton or tremendous weight. Unfortunately man's textbook drawings of these carcass of a recently deceased there came a time when all the land _ beasts. specimen will ever really solve the dried up, the forests turned to desert, How, then, are we to explain these mystery, unless of course an animal the swamps emptied and Kulta died. stories? As myths? As the imagination of "primitive" people who dreamed up monsters that just happened to turn up in fossil beds centuries later? But if they are to be regarded as myths and legends, let us not forget that all mythology is founded upon actual historical events of the past. 00 (Source: Edited from chapter 21, "Beware of Burrunjors in the Bush", of Out of the Dreamtime: The Search for Australasia's Unknown Animals (Uru Publications, 2006), by Rex and Heather Gilroy. For more information, visit the website http ://www.mysteriousaustralia.com. Out of the Dreamtime was reviewed in can be captured alive. But then, how does one go about capturing a live, 50- tonne or so carnivorous killing machine? not ABORIGINAL MYTHS OR TRUE STORIES? The early Australian Aborigines certainly described in detail saurian- type reptilian monsters centuries before they ever had access to white man's textbook drawings of these beasts. How, then, are we to explain these stories? As myths? As the imagination of "primitive" people who dreamed up monsters that just happened to turn up in fossil beds centuries later? But if they are to be regarded as myths and legends, let us not forget that all mythology is founded upon actual historical events of the past. 00 (Source: Edited from chapter 21, "Beware of Burrunjors in the Bush", of Out of the Dreamtime: The Search for Australasia's Unknown Animals (Uru Publications, 2006), by Rex and Heather Gilroy. For more information, visit the website http ://www.mysteriousaustralia.com. Out of the Dreamtime was reviewed in NEXUS vol. 14, no. 1.) 68 ¢ NEXUS The remote Winton district, a scene of several sightings. Photo © Rex Gilroy 2006 www.nexusmagazine.com DECEMBER 2008 — JANUARY 2009