In the suburb of Sunbury, in Melbourne, Australia, there are some enigmatic ground rings that have baffled historians and archaeologists for decades.
These are not simple natural formations, but cultural vestiges created by the Aboriginal people. Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung hundreds of years ago. A recent archaeological study, published in Australian Archeologyhas shed new light on its origin, use and cultural significance.
The earth rings at Sunbury were built between 590 and 1,400 years agoaccording to the analysis carried out in 2022 by the team led by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung themselves.
These circles, created by digging and piling dirt, They reflect a deep connection between the Aboriginal people and their environment. “Sunbury Ring G represents a place where the liwik traveled and gathered, and It is likely that it was a place of ceremonies“, detailed the report of Australian Geographic.
The researchers found that the construction involved clear dirt and plants, scrape soil and layer rocksa laborious process that demonstrates the level of sophistication of these communities.
Furthermore, archaeological remains revealed that stone tools were used to mark skin, work with feathers and perform ritual ceremonies.
These mysterious circles are not unique to Australia. Similar earth rings have been identified in countries such as England, Cambodia and the Amazon. However, the Sunbury They have a unique cultural meaning.
In eastern Australia, many rings were used as sacred places of initiation and ceremony by different aboriginal groups.
Most of the Australian earth rings disappeared after the European colonization and the development of the territory.
Of the hundreds that once existed in New South Wales and Queensland, There are less than 100 left in the entire country.. In Victoria, specifically in Sunbury, only five have been identified, according to the official statement.
For the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, the rings are much more than archaeological remains: they represent the living history of his town.
“This landscape has immense cultural significance. “It reflects a deep history of occupation, colonization, resistance, adaptation and resilience,” the team explained.
The concept of “country” in aboriginal culture includes elements such as earth, water, sky, plants, animals, artifacts, and ceremonies.
These rings symbolize the connection of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung with its history and traditionstransmitted from generation to generation.
One of the most relevant discoveries is that of Sunbury Ring Gone of the five rings identified in the region. This site, originally excavated in 1979was analyzed again in 2022.
The team dated the deposits and analyzed the 166 stone artifacts foundmanaging to reconstruct its possible uses.
According to the study published in Australian Archeologyresidues on stone tools suggest that They were used for multiple purposessuch as working with animals and plants, making feather ornaments and marking the skin in ceremonies.
“The results bring together the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people’s understanding of the biik wurrdha cultural landscape and archaeological evidence of cultural fire, carving, movement and tool use from their ancestors,” the experts stated according to the British media. The Independent.
Despite their historical and cultural relevance, the earth rings face constant threats due to urban development and climate change. These factors put at risk not only the sites themselves, but also the rich history they represent.
“Memory of the purpose of the Sunbury Rings has faded, but a deep understanding of the cultural values of the landscape has been passed down through generations“, they concluded, according to the UK newspaper.
