12,000-Year-Old Cultural Practices Discovered in Australia

Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of Long-Standing Rituals Passed Down Through Generations in GunaiKurnai Country

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.

Ritual sticks uncovered in Cloggs Cave date back 10,000 to 12,000 years. David et. al 2024