GunaiKurnai Cave Rituals Reveal 25,000 Years

A new study in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology provides compelling evidence that the GunaiKurnai people repeatedly carried whole grasses into Cloggs Cave in southeastern Australia and burned them for ceremonial purposes for about 25,000 years, extending the timeline of ritual activity well into the Ice Age era. The researchers identify thousands of phytoliths—microscopic plant silica remains—preserved in layered sediments, indicating sustained use of grasses specifically for magic, healing, and potentially cursing as described in traditional GunaiKurnai knowledge. The evidence ties together scientific analysis of burnt phytoliths with Indigenous community collaboration, underscoring a long-standing cultural practice rather than mere accidental plant remains. Researchers emphasize that this ritual burning is distinct from other cultural burning practices and highlight the cave’s role as a ceremonial site for multiple generations. The findings build on earlier archaeological discoveries at Cloggs Cave and situate GunaiKurnai ceremonial use within a deep historical and cultural context, reaffirming the importance of Indigenous involvement in interpreting these sites.