Flinders University researchers, working with the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, have identified evidence of Aboriginal mining at Sugarloaf Hill in South Australia's Riverland that spans 7,000 years. The finding marks the first detailed investigation into an Aboriginal chert and silcrete quarry in the region.
This discovery sheds light on the deep history of resource use by Indigenous Australians. Sugarloaf Hill served as a significant source of stone for tools, indicating long-term, systematic mining practices that predate modern industrial mining by millennia.
The dating was conducted as part of a comprehensive study of the quarry site. Researchers analyzed stone artifacts and sediment layers to establish the timeline of human activity at the location, confirming continuous use over seven millennia.
The findings challenge assumptions about the scale and duration of pre-colonial mining in Australia. They also highlight the importance of preserving such sites and recognizing Indigenous knowledge systems embedded in the landscape.
The partnership between Flinders University and the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation exemplifies collaborative research that respects Indigenous heritage. Future studies may explore additional quarry sites in the region.