Deep within a cave in southern Australia, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of what may be the oldest known culturally transmitted ritual in the world. The artifacts found in Cloggs Cave, including two mini-fires and two burnt sticks, date back 12,000 years and bear striking similarities to a ritual practiced by the Gunaikurnai, an Indigenous group in Australia.
The artifacts were analyzed using both scientific techniques and Aboriginal oral history, revealing that they may have been used in a ritual to bring harm to another person. The Gunaikurnai ritual involved smearing a wooden object with fat and then burning it in a fire, a practice that dates back to the late 19th century.
Excavations of Cloggs Cave have shown that the site was used for special ritual purposes dating back 25,000 years, with the most recent ritual activities occurring around 1,600 years ago. The discovery of two sacred ritual installations, each containing a small fireplace with a burnt stick, sheds light on the ancient practices of the Old Ancestors.
Radiocarbon dating of the sticks revealed that they are the oldest wooden artifacts ever found in Australia, dating back over 12,000 years. The sticks, made from Casuarina wood, showed signs of deliberate alteration, indicating that they were used in a specific ritualistic manner.
Chemical analysis of residue on the sticks confirmed the presence of fatty acids, suggesting that they were smeared with animal or human fat. The lack of food remains near the fireplaces and the smoothness of the sticks further support the conclusion that they were used for ritual purposes.
The study of these ancient ritual objects not only provides valuable insight into the practices of the Old Ancestors but also highlights the importance of preserving Indigenous knowledge. The colonization and Westernization of Australia have led to a loss of traditional cultural practices, making it crucial to incorporate Aboriginal oral history into archaeological research.
By combining scientific analysis with traditional cultural knowledge, researchers can paint a more complete picture of the ancient rituals practiced by Indigenous groups in Australia. The discovery of these 12,000-year-old artifacts represents a significant milestone in understanding the cultural heritage of the region and the rituals that have been passed down through generations.
