Marree Man

A pilot spotted the figure in June 1998 on a remote plateau in South Australia, near the town of Marree and Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. The ground design, known as a geoglyph, portrays a person apparently throwing a boomerang or stick. Sources give slightly different overall measurements: the United States Geological Survey describes it as 3.5 kilometres from the implement’s tip to the figure’s toes, while Australian Geographic reported a length of 4.2 kilometres. It is large enough to be seen in satellite images.

The figure’s maker has not been reliably identified, and its origin remains a mystery. Various theories have been suggested, including the involvement of an artist, but these remain unconfirmed. The discovery attracted speculation partly because of the work’s scale and precision and the absence of a public claim of responsibility. Theories should not be treated as established attribution.

Rain and wind gradually softened the original outline. In August 2016, the figure was re-etched using a grader and GPS, according to the USGS. Australian Geographic reported that the restoration was organized locally after consultation with and permission from the Arabana Aboriginal Corporation, and that windrows were added to help trap rain and encourage vegetation. The restored outline was again visible in satellite imagery later that year.

The Marree Man is best understood from above because its enormous outline is difficult to take in from ground level. Landsat imagery has documented both its fading and its renewed visibility after restoration. Remote sensing thus provides a record of change in the geoglyph and a way to observe a human-made feature in an otherwise sparsely settled landscape.