Australia's Most Ancient Sacred Cave Was Destroyed and Nobody Was Charged

Beneath the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia, a cave holds art that is 22,000 years old. Before scientists studied it, the accepted date for Aboriginal occupation of Australia was 8,700 years. Koonalda Cave alone pushed that back by more than thirteen thousand years overnight. Aboriginal people went 366 metres underground in total darkness to mine flint that was then traded across 3,000 kilometres of continental trade routes. In July 2022, vandals dug under the steel gate protecting the site, went inside, and carved graffiti directly over the ancient art. Archaeologists confirmed the damage is permanent and irreversible. The Mirning people had been requesting better security since 2018. Nobody has been charged.

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