Introduction
A remarkable discovery in southeastern Australia has unveiled archaeological evidence of what may be the oldest known culturally transmitted human ritual. Sticks found preserved in fireplaces within a cave, dating back to the end of the Last Ice Age, suggest that a ritual intended to cure or harm has been passed down through approximately 500 generations. The findings, detailed in a study published on July 1 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour1, offer a unique glimpse into the deep cultural history of the GunaiKurnai First Nations people.
