Catastrophic fires in Australia have unexpectedly exposed a previously unknown system of ancient canals and stone houses in the southwestern Australian state of Victoria. This is a civilization created by the inhabitants of the Gunditjmar region 6,600 years ago, Australian ABC News reports.
It has already been established that the discovered buildings of the Gunditjmar aborigines are older than the ancient Egyptian pyramids. The indigenous people of this region created an intricate network of canals, lined with stones and used to catch eels. Aboriginal dwellings were also often made of stone.
Scientists previously knew about the region's ancient aquaculture system, but the fires that hit Australia have revealed hitherto unknown traces of an ancient civilization. And on a completely different scale, which was not previously suspected. Previously, the canal system and fragments of dwellings were hidden under the lush vegetation of Australia. After the fires, they were clearly visible.
Now the new discovery will be investigated by archaeologists. Scientists are already conducting aerial photography using specialized software. It is possible that the culture of the Gunditjmar aborigines will turn out to be much more developed and complex than previously thought, archaeologists believe.
The indigenous people of Gunditjmar are known to have established one of the largest and oldest aquaculture networks in the world. Their ancient system has an intricate series of stone channels and pools designed to catch eels. In 2019, the area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
