From October to February, an excavation mission was done by archaeologists from the Australian Cultural Heritage Management in the northwestern part of the country. They focused their digging on a particular rock shelter.

What they were able to unearth were simply astounding. They found ancient tools dating back to at least 35,000 years ago. Some of these tools include a piece of flint that was used as a knife. Aside from these tools, seeds, bark and other plant material were also found in the site.

Slim Parker, an elder of the Martidja Banyjima people, was really excited upon seeing the tools. He said that the tools were proof that their people have already inhabited the land for tens of thousands of years. Parker said:

This area of land, in regard to our culture and customs and beliefs, is of great significance to us. We have songs and stories relating to that area as a sustaining resource that has provided for and cared for our people for thousands of years.

With the results of the excavation, archaeologist Neale Draper said that one of the tools found had at least one "beautifully made" piece of flint which sharp knife-like shards were knocked off. He hopes that testing these knives will reveal residue that could indicate what the people ate. Furthermore, Draper said:

Very old sites are rare, and this is one of the oldest. We're filling in a picture of who the first Australians were and what they were doing where they were really, really early. These could be another 5,000 to 10,000 years old, and that would be really exciting.

Having had a successful mission, Draper said that they will continuing on with their efforts. They have plans of excavating similar rock shelters near the area in the future.