Buzz
Ancient Koonalda Cave has been infiltrated and vandalized, leaving the local Mirning community in outrage and authorities intensifying efforts to apprehend the culprits.
Ancient Koonalda Cave in Australia, Over 20,000 Years Old, Targeted by Vandals
Koonalda Cave sits upon a flat, arid strip of land in Southern Australia. It houses artworks dating back 22,000 years and holds sacred significance for the indigenous Mirning people. Discoveries within have reshaped historians' understanding of Australia's past.
The perpetrators of the vandalism at Koonalda Cave were undeterred by fences and existing security measures. As a result, the South Australian government is proposing installing security cameras and seeking community input to enhance protection. However, Bunna Lawrie, elder of the Mirning people and custodian of Koonalda Cave, stated he was unaware of the incident until media reports surfaced.
The incident has left the Mirning people disappointed, as they claim to have repeatedly requested increased security for Koonalda Cave without response from the authorities.
According to Mirning people, Koonlda Cave is a sacred site, not open to the public and tourists. Only a few male elders in the village can access and enter the cave. Besides its spiritual significance, strict requirements are imposed to protect the intricate artistic images carved into the cave's background.
For decades, Australian scientists believed that indigenous people of the country only existed on the mainland for about 8,000 years. Koonalda Cave is the first place with rock art showing indigenous people may have appeared as early as 22,000 years ago.
This has raised the scientific community's understanding of Australian history to a new level. In 2014, Koonalda Cave was designated as a location on the National Heritage List.
According to the Australian Bureau of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Water, the dating of cave art is assessed through archaeological sites and fingerprints. Then fingerprints are confirmed using carbon dating technology. Besides finger-drawn grooves, the cave also has another peculiar rock art form. According to a government website, the cave walls have horizontal and vertical lines forming V-shaped patterns made by a sharp tool.
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
