Mining giant admits damaging aboriginal site

DARWIN: Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has admitted damaging ancient Aboriginal rock shelters in the remote Pilbara region — blasting near the 46,000-year-old heritage site to expand an iron ore mine.

Traditional owners said the culturally significant cave in Juukan Gorge, Western Australia — one of the earliest known sites occupied by Aboriginals in Australia — had been destroyed in a “devastating blow” to the community.