As the archaeological evidence suggests, karst played a significant role in the lives of many aboriginal peoples in the past. Karst caves were not only used for shelter, but were also considered by some groups to be sacred places for burial and ceremonial purposes.
Unusual limestone surface features often played a role in aboriginal mythology, and the water from karst springs was viewed as having special properties. In many cases, the productivity of karst terrain also benefited aboriginal peoples by supplying large trees for dugouts, construction materials, or totem poles, and by providing excellent growing sites for various shrubs and herbs used for food and medicines.
Many present-day aboriginal cultures continue to value karst for ancestral, heritage, and cultural reasons. (Photo by P. Griffiths.)
|| Contents |||| For More Information ||