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Ancient rock art at Carnarvon Gorge destroyed after walkway explodes in bushfire
ABC Sunshine Coast By Alex Easton
Updated Tue at 6:33pm
PHOTO: Experts say the ancient art in Baloon Cave cannot be restored.
(Supplied: Selina Goodreid/Paul Tacon)
It has been revealed that ancient rock art was destroyed after a recycled-plastic walkway intended to protect the site exploded during a bushfire in Carnarvon National Park.
The incident has prompted an archaeologist working with local Indigenous people to call for the removal of all flammable structures at vulnerable sites around the country.
The destruction at Baloon Cave occurred during 2018's devastating Queensland bushfires, but has not been spoken about publicly until now to allow the site's custodians time to come to terms with the loss.
While some of the hand stencils at the cave were ancient, other, more recent prints, had been added over time.
More:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-08/ancient-rock-art-lost-after-plastic-walkway-explodes-in-bushfire/11848938