30,000-year-old ancient rock art in Australia wrecked by vandals

Vandalism of ancient and heritage artifacts and monuments is deplorable as it destroys our connection with the past, erasing a part of history. This is what happened as per a smithsonianmag.com report when miscreants forcibly entered Koonalda Cave in Southern Australia and wrecked sacred indigenous rock art – the ancient Nullarbor Plain drawings — dating back to 30,000 years.

The Cave — part of Australia’s National Heritage List since 2014 —  plays a vital role in the history of the country as well as its human beings. For very long it was thought that the first people to arrive on the continent did so 8,700 years ago. This changed when this cave with the drawings was found as dated back to at least 30,000 years.

As per Australian National Heritage Places registry, the discovery of this cave “transformed the scientific community and publics’ understanding of Australian and World prehistory.”

The drawings in the cave which are called rock art is the oldest known form of early human art. Among several indigenous cultures, these works are considered an integral part of oral histories and cultural heritage. For the Aboriginal Mirning community the cave is sacred and for Mirning Elders, a visit to the Nullarbor Plain art is part of their ritual of conferring with their ancestors.

It is indeed surprising that the perpetrators of the crime went through great lengths to commit this act – they forced past through barbed wire and dug under the steel gate to enter the caves to etch graffiti on the limestone wall.

Describing the incident as “shocking”, Kyam Maher, South Australia Attorney General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister told ABC Radio: “These caves are some of the earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation of that part of the country.”

The culprits who wrote “Don’t look now, but this is a death cave” on the ancient geometric patterns etched out on the rock are yet to be caught but what they have done is unpardonable. As per Keryn Walshe, an archaeologist of ancient Aboriginal sites: “The vandals caused a huge amount of damage. The art is not recoverable. The surface of the cave is very soft. It is not possible to remove the graffiti without destroying the art underneath. It’s a massive, tragic loss to have it defaced to this degree.”

People of Mirning community have been asking the Australian Government to bring about a change in the maintenance of the site – make it more secure and provide access to its people. At present, they need to request for the key from the authorities which makes it tough for them to visit and protect it. Over the years, trespassers have been carving their names on the rocks with their fingers.

Expressing the sentiments and hurt of the aboriginals, Uncle Bunna Lawrie, a Mirning Elder told the media: “Me and my Mirning Elders are very sad, disturbed and hurt by what has happened. Koonalda is our most important, sacred place.”

Suspecting this act of vandalism to be premeditated he pointed out that the drawings are quite deep inside the tunnels which are located in the dark caves and that Koonalda is very far from human habitation. “It is not coming back. It is one of the oldest cave art in the world and it is now damaged. It is so wrong.”

Clare Buswell, chair of the Australian Speleological Federations Conservation Commission feels an effective gate and use of modern security measures including 24-hour cameras would have deterred the vandals.