 They were discovered by the U.S. Victoria Land Traverse party, 1959–60, and mapped by United States Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1959–64.They were so named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for their remote position at the posterior side of the large mountain belt that extends from the Ross Sea to the interior ice plateau.Geographic features of the Outback Nunataks include