Inside Waribruk, a limestone cave in the Victorian Alps foothills, researchers hit an extraordinary jackpot. In the process, they discovered remarkable evidence of First Nations ancestors’ footprints. GunaiKurnai Elders hold this cave sacred due to its huge cultural significance. This place is home to a wealth of historical artifacts that shed light on the practices and beliefs of the Indigenous peoples of this beautiful region.
The cave’s idyllic setting includes an underwater tunnel entrance, leading to a pitch-black cavern that opens only to the stars above. Long ago, microorganisms that thrived on the soft, moist stone surface created a natural coating of luminescent microcrystals. As in the indigenous homes, the walls and ceiling of Waribruk shine and twinkle when lit up. This contributes to a dream world feel that serves to accentuate the site’s magical qualities.
Inside this magical cavern, adventurers discovered 950 finger grooves carved deep into the cave’s walls. These grooves tell an extraordinary story that dates back thousands of years, linking modern Australians with their ancient ancestors.
A Window into Ancient Practices
The finger grooves at Waribruk don’t stop there and are only superficial carvings. Henna plants The henna symbolically represents the spiritual and medicinal traditions of the mulla-mullung — medicine men and women who possessed extensive knowledge in their communities. These figures are thought to cure by means of magical ritual. Whether through space clearing or other forms of healing, they typically make crystals and powdered minerals integral aspects of their practice.
The grooves themselves provide an intriguing look at how these artisans engaged with their surroundings. Each series of grooves marks the application of four or five fingers, some impressions capturing both hands next to each other. The oldest marks run in straight lines across the cave’s walls and ceilings. At the same time, two parallel sets of fine impressions—just 3 to 5 millimeters wide for each digit—uncover the fragility of this early touch.
One of the most remarkable is a 262-groove panel over a narrow clay bench that slopes sharply toward its base along a creek bed. Installation presenting 193 grooves following a route straight above the creek bottom. These results show a deep connection between the mulla-mullung and their environment. They testify to the irreplaceable role the landscape plays in their spiritual practices.
Dating the Grooves
Modern research suggests the finger grooves of Waribruk are between 8,400 and 1,800 years old. This timeline is an approximation of 420 to 90 generations ago. This long temporal perspective stresses the long term importance of this place for First Nations communities across the state of Victoria.
The opportunity to date these impressions offers, without exaggeration, an inexhaustible context for understanding past cultural practices of the GunaiKurnai people. Archaeologists are trying to get at all the history that’s been carved into these grooves. Through these installations, they reveal layers of cultural significance that illuminate personal narratives while lifting up the shared history of their ancestors.
“rock art” – source not explicitly stated but “The Conversation”
Cultural Significance and Future Research
According to GunaiKurnai Elders, Waribruk is an important cultural area to be regarded as their ancestors’ still-living memorial. By preserving these ancient markings, they aim to honor their heritage while fostering a greater understanding among contemporary Australians about Indigenous history and culture.
Additional research at Waribruk is sure to make some groundbreaking discoveries. Such findings will help to better understand this complicated and often fraught relationship between First Nations peoples and their environment. Interdisciplinary scholars are thrilled by what is yet to be explored in this incredible space, hopeful that new findings will recreate historical narratives.