• Aboriginal artefacts destroyed by vandals at Koonalda Cave in South Australia.
• “Don’t look now, because this is a death cave” was written in the cave.
• Caves are early evidence of Aboriginal occupancy in Australia.

In South Australia, sacred artefacts that are estimated to be around 30,000 years old have been destroyed by vandals.

For the local Aboriginal Mirning people, the Nullarbor Plain art—details carved into the chalk limestone walls of the Koonalda Cave—holds unique significance.

The vandals are thought to have dug under a steel gate before scrawling “don’t look now, but this is a death cave” on the walls. The authorities are investigating.

“This is quite frankly shocking,” South Australia Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Kyam Maher, told Radio.

“These caves are some of the earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation of that part of the country.”

Senior Mirning elder, Uncle Bunna Lawrie, told the Media he first heard about the “devastating” vandalism from the media and said it was another example of “the constant disrespect” his people had experienced.

“It’s abuse to our country and it’s abuse to our history,” he said. “What’s gone is gone and we’re never going to get it back.”

Since 2014, the Koonalda Cave has been recognized as a National Heritage monument.

Mr. Lawrie expressed his appreciation for Mr. Maher’s suggestion that individuals found to be guilty for the vandalism may face punishment.

Elders and cave specialists have, however, criticized Mr. Maher and the federal authorities, claiming that they brought up the issue of lax security at the site months ago.

Under South Australia’s Aboriginal heritage legislation, anyone found to have harmed an Aboriginal site or object faces a fine of A$10,000 ($6,700; £5,500) or up to six months in jail.

However, following an investigation into the devastation of the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters, the authorities have promised to reinforce these restrictions.

In 2020, as part of an iron ore exploration expedition, mining firm Rio Tinto was ordered to reconstruct the Western Australian site after blowing up the shelters there.

Due to the incident, several senior corporate employees resigned.

Better legislation to safeguard Aboriginal culture, according to Mr. Lawrie, ought to have been in place a long time ago.

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