Vandals destroy sacred cave art in Australia, scaring natives

• The cave is a sacred site for the indigenous Mining People.
• State officials may add security cameras after hurdles failed to deter vandals.
• The Mining neighborhood is devastated as officials look for the vandals.

Koonalda Cave is a sacred location for the indigenous Mining People and a finding that revolutionized scientists’ view of history.

The Mining neighborhood is devastated as officials look for the vandals.

“Earlier this year it was discovered that the cave had been unlawfully accessed and a section of the delicate finger flutings had been vandalized, with damage scratched across them into the side of the cave,” a government spokesperson said in a statement to Media.

The flutings are ridges left on the supple limestone cave walls by ice period humans’ fingertips.

“The vandalism of Koonalda Cave is shocking and heartbreaking. Koonalda Cave is of significant importance to the Mirning People, and its tens of thousands of years of history show some of the earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation in that part of the country,” the spokesperson said.

“If these vandals can be apprehended they should face the full force of the law.”

The South Australia state government is now considering adding security cameras and has been interviewing traditional owners “over recent months” on how to properly protect the site after barriers at the caves failed to stop the vandals.

Bunna Lawrie, a senior Mining elder and the caretaker of Koonalda, claims he was unaware of the vandalism until it was published by local media this week.

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