Australia’s Murujuga rock art given UNESCO World Heritage Site status Australia’s Murujuga rock art given UNESCO World Heritage Site status

It’s hard to imagine what life was like a thousand years ago, let alone tens of thousands. But if there’s one thing that connects us to our ancestors, it’s our creativity. Humans today might translate what they see into paintings, books or films, but the first modern humans looked around at their surroundings and turned it into rock art.

Petroglyphs have been found all over the world, with some of the oldest, dating back 50,000 years, found in Western Australia. Now, Murujuga (or ‘hip bone sticking out’), where these petroglyphs are located, has been given UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

The Murujuga Cultural Landscape, which covers sites across the Dampier Archipelago and Burrup Peninsula, is home to an estimated two million petroglyphs, making the area the densest concentration of rock art in the world.

The fascinating depictions include a mix of anthropomorphic figures, geometric motifs, and animals, as well as the earliest known depiction of a human face.

Murujuga Cultural Landscape’s inclusion on the list doesn’t just recognise its ancient rock art, but the living culture that continues here to this day. The Ngarda-Ngarli, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the site, have looked after the site since its creation, and the art depicted here is an archive of the laws that govern their way of life.

“For more than 50,000 years, the Ngarda-Ngarli people have protected and managed this significant land and seascape – and today, I am proud to announce, that Murujuga will receive another level of protection via the World Heritage system,” Murray Watt, federal minister for the environment and water, said.

“It has been a great privilege to support the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga to see this globally significant cultural landscape included on the World Heritage List. The Australian Government is strongly committed to World Heritage and the protection of First Nations cultural heritage – and we will ensure this outstanding place is protected now and for future generations.”

Murujuga is Australia’s 21st UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the second to be recognised for its Aboriginal cultural values.

More information: westernaustralia.com

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