46009 years., page-7

To mark National Sorry Day, a day to remember past mistreatments of Australia's indigenous people, Rio Tinto has blasted a 46,000 year old cultural site to kingdom come. They have done so to expand their Brockman 4 mine in the western Pilbara.

A 2014 archeological excavation in Juukan Gorge discovered grinding stones dating back over 40,000 years, a kangaroo bone sharpened into a tool dating back 28,000 years, and loop of braided hair from 4000 years ago that through DNA testing came from a direct ancestor of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikuru traditional owners.

The destruction took place under WA state legislation drafted in 1972 and was given ministerial approval back in 2013. The approval couldn't be wound back despite the archaeological finds in the years since and the potential for more significant discoveries in the caves. The local Juukan people only learned of the planned detonation when they asked to visit the site for NAIDOC week only to be told explosives had been laid and it was too late.

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from an Australian Mining company. We absolutely vilify overseas companies for wanting to destroy our environment. Allowing an Australian company to do this is shameful.

Rio Tinto knew full well the significance of the Juukan Gorge but blew it back to the Stone Age regardless.

Pilbara mining blast confirmed to have destroyed 46,000yo sites of 'staggering' significance
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-26/rio-tinto-blast-destroys-area-with-ancient-aboriginal-heritage/12286652?fbclid=IwAR14KyLELQtzl_ieoP4KCiyIh9YvvFvZvgQBKa2vItk56i7WnyYTgr_jpbo