Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that Cloggs Cave in south-eastern Victoria, Australia, was used for magic, healing, and cursing rituals spanning 25,000 years. According to research published by Bruno David at Monash University and Russell Mullett, a GunaiKurnai elder, microscopic plant cells preserved in the cave reveal that the Indigenous GunaiKurnai people maintained ritual practices across more than 1,000 generations.
The Discovery of Ancient Plant Ash Layers
Excavations inside Cloggs Cave revealed thousands of microscopic, silt-sized preserved cells called phytoliths, which form when plants absorb soluble silica from the soil. According to David, grasses made up 97 percent of the burnt phytoliths found at the site. Because grasses immediately turn to ash rather than charcoal when burned, Indigenous inhabitants brought whole grasses—including their roots—into the cave to generate thin layers of ash.
While the burning of grass occurred sporadically prior to 4,400 years ago, the practice intensified significantly between 4,400 and 1,600 years ago, resulting in dense ashy deposits spread across the cave floor. Around 2,000 years ago, a standing stone was erected inside the cave, with grass burning continuing around the monolith for the following 400 years, according to archaeological findings detailed by Monash University researchers and GLaWAC.
Connecting Archaeological Finds to 19th-Century Records
To understand the purpose of these ancient layers, researchers cross-referenced the physical evidence with historical anthropological accounts. In the 1880s, anthropologist Alfred Howitt documented the rituals of powerful GunaiKurnai medicine men and women, whom he described as wizards. Howitt’s historical records confirm that ash played an important role in nineteenth-century GunaiKurnai ceremonies.
The new phytolith data pushes the roots of these cultural practices back 25,000 years. The team ruled out natural deposition methods, noting that unlike wind-blown pollen or flood sediments, phytoliths deposit immediately beside their source plants. Furthermore, unburnt phytoliths recovered from the scats of common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) clearly distinguished natural accumulation from deliberate human burning activities.
FAQ
Where is Cloggs Cave located?
Cloggs Cave is situated in south-eastern Victoria, Australia, within the traditional homeland of the GunaiKurnai people.
How long did the ritual practices last?
According to Monash University researchers, ritual grass burning inside the cave took place over a period spanning 25,000 years.
What were the ashes used for?
Researchers connect the ash layers to traditional Indigenous practices recorded by anthropologist Alfred Howitt in the 1880s, which included magic, healing, and cursing rituals performed by medicine practitioners.
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