Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable evidence of an Aboriginal ritual that may have been passed down through 500 generations over a staggering 12,000 years, making it the oldest known continuous cultural tradition in the world.
The discovery was made deep inside Cloggs Cave, located in the foothills of the Victorian Alps in southeastern Australia, a region long inhabited by the Gunaikurnai people. Carefully excavating the cave, researchers found two wooden sticks, one dating back 11,000 years and the other 12,000 years old, partially burned and coated in animal or human fat
The sticks were discovered protruding from miniature fireplaces, far too small for cooking or heating. Archaeologists noted the sticks were trimmed and positioned at a slanted angle, aligning with the configuration of ritual installations described in 19th-century ethnographic accounts of Gunaikurnai practices.
According to these historical records, Gunaikurnai medicine men and women known as “mulla-mullung” would perform rituals using wooden sticks called “murrawan”. The sticks would be prepared with fat, stuck into the ground near a fire at an angle, and left to fall as the mulla-mullung chanted a charm. The ritual could either heal a clan member or bring harm to others, depending on the occasion.
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The discovery represents an astounding 500 generations of unbroken cultural transmission, dating back to the end of the last ice age[4]. Gunaikurnai Elder Uncle Russell Mullett, a co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of the find, stating “It’s all about experience from the deep past to the present and into the future. It’s a reminder that we are a living culture still connected to our ancient past.”
The wooden artifacts, preserved by the cave’s dry, alkaline conditions, are the oldest of their kind found in Australia. No other cultural ritual in the world has physical evidence dating back so far. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, highlights the importance of integrating scientific methods with indigenous knowledge to gain a comprehensive understanding of these profound discoveries and their cultural significance.