World Heritage Identification Number: 1709
World Heritage since: 2025
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Cultural Landscapes
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇦🇺 Australia
Continent: Oceania
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
Map
Murujuga Cultural Landscape: A Journey Through Time and Culture
The Murujuga Cultural Landscape, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025, offers a remarkable glimpse into the rich cultural history of Australia's indigenous peoples. This significant site, spanning the Burrup Peninsula, the Dampier Archipelago's 42 islands, and adjacent marine areas, is a testament to the enduring connection between the land, sea, and the Ngarda-Ngarli, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this sacred territory.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Murujuga is a landscape of ancient rocks located in northwest Australia, which encompasses the Burrup Peninsula, the Dampier Archipelago’s 42 islands, and nearby marine areas. It is shaped by the Lore—rules and narratives that were put in place to create the Country—and the enduring presence of the Ngarda-Ngarli, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the site. The property holds profound cultural and spiritual significance, reflecting over 50,000 years of continuous care and use. Murujuga is renowned for its dense concentration of petroglyphs, featuring unique motifs that display artistic and technical mastery.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (i): The petroglyphs of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape demonstrate artistic achievement assembled over 50,000 years. The creative genius of Ngarda-Ngarli ancestors is evidenced in artistic quality, placement within the landscape, and the overwhelming visual quality of the entire ensemble of 1-2 million petroglyphs. The artistic quality is remarkable. There is diversity in artistic expression, including use of naturalism and abstraction. While some anthropomorphic figures are arranged in complex scenes, others are engraved in distinctive styles as individual motifs. There are abstract static figures; unusual profile figures; as well as standing, running, and squatting figures, some with sinuous limbs, where artists have used profile and perspective to create a sense of movement. Many zoomorphic petroglyphs demonstrate detailed naturalism revealing morphological knowledge of locally and nationally extinct marsupials. Animal footprints denote spiritual paths through the landscape, and the corpus also includes geometric and abstract designs. The collection of rare and intricate archaic faces, thought to be some of the oldest Murujuga petroglyphs, are amongst the earliest anthropomorphic images on earth. These motifs were produced using complex decorative infill and would have required exceptionally skilled engraving techniques. The petroglyphs are visually outstanding, demonstrate technical skill, and represent multiple phases in the development of regional and local styles. The petroglyphs exist in deliberate spatial relations, established by deep cultural connections between people and landscape, imbued with meaning and associated with spiritual knowledge and practices. Their placement and content convey an encyclopaedia of cultural knowledge. The Murujuga petroglyphs are a manifestation of creative genius, inscribed in the landscape since deep time.
Criterion (iii): The Murujuga Cultural Landscape bears testimony to the living cultural traditions of Ngarda-Ngarli and the spiritual relationship between people and landscape that is at least 50,000 years old. Ngarda-Ngarli knowledge, Lore, Law, and culture are expressed through the landscape and in the petroglyph assemblage. The petroglyphs of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape have a central role in the continuing culture of Ngarda-Ngarli through storytelling that connects Country with creation stories. New generations learn cultural traditions through the observance of Law, artistic practices like song and dance, as well as the performance of particular actions at places of spiritual power within the landscape. Ngarda-Ngarli fulfill cultural obligations to look after the Murujuga Cultural Landscape. Ngarda-Ngarli know there are possible harmful effects if cultural obligations are neglected. The petroglyphs, stone structures and Ngarda-Ngarli’s cultural beliefs all provide testimony to a living cultural tradition. Petroglyphs are a permanent reminder that Traditional Lore is inscribed into the landscape. Stone structures and archaeological sites are a permanent inscription within the landscape of the practice of Law, the social division of space and adaptive strategies of stewardship within a dynamic environment. The creation narratives, jinna (‘songlines’), spiritual places, and thalu (increase sites) are fundamental to Ngarda-Ngarli understanding and management of nature. The natural attributes are a reminder of continuing traditional management of the land and seascape over thousands of generations. The stories, the resources and spirit of the land are alive and as important to Ngarda-Ngarli today as they have been for at least 50,000 years.
Criterion (v): The Murujuga Cultural Landscape exemplifies the combined works of nature and humankind. The relationship between Ngarda-Ngarli and the landscape is evident in the petroglyphs, archaeological record and, importantly, contemporary knowledge and culture. Material evidence and Ngarda-Ngarli living culture attest to continued use of the landscape over millennia, including periods of significant environmental and climatic change. The inextricable integration of cultural and natural attributes embodies the enduring relationship between people and nature, offering a unique example of human adaptation to ecological and cultural transition and environmental and cultural stewardship. The long history of adaptation to change illustrates a balanced, symbiotic relationship with nature, demonstrating the deep and sustainable connection of Ngarda-Ngarli to Country and exemplifying the traditional system perpetuated by Ngarda-Ngarli which governs the landscape as a whole. The landscape reveals a creation narrative of climatic change, culminating in rapid sea level rises that shifted the coastline approximately 160 kilometres, so the arid rocky ranges became an archipelago. The petroglyphs of Murujuga provide a detailed record of the ecological transition, illustrating traditional ecological knowledge. Ngarda-Ngarli witnessed and adapted to change, modifying rituals and the landscape, including middens, quarries, standing stones and fish traps. The landscape includes Australia’s earliest known domestic stone structures, as well as submerged occupation sites. Ngarda-Ngarli continue to sing jinna connecting the land and seascape. The Murujuga Cultural Landscape is an outstanding example of human interaction with the environment over at least 50,000 years. The landscape is patterned by this long-term presence persisting through irreversible environmental and climatic changes. The cultural landscape includes petroglyphs, stone structures and living cultural practices, which evidence adaptive utilisation of land and sea and continuous Ngarda-Ngarli custodianship of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape since deep time, through present time and for Ngarda-Ngarli into the future.
Encyclopedia Record: Murujuga National Park
Murujuga National Park is a national park on Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara region in the north-west of Western Australia, covering an area of 48.51 km2 (18.73 sq mi).Additional Site Details
Area: 99.881 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
Coordinates: -20.5650277778 , 116.6685277778
Image
© Marius Fenger, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Murujuga Cultural Landscape from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
-
Provenance analysis of stone artefact assemblages using petrography and pXRF at Murujuga (the Dampier Archipelago), Western Australia
Over half of the stone artefacts at Nganjarli (Deep Gorge) on Murujuga, Western Australia, were sourced from non-local outcrops, a finding that highlights complex human mobility patterns in this culturally significant landscape. Researchers used petrography and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) to analyze artefact assemblages across four sites, demonstrating the technique's effectiveness for in situ provenance analysis. By distinguishing local rock types using geochemical markers like zirconium (Zr) and titanium (Ti), the study revealed that most artefacts at other sites were locally sourced. This approach enhances understanding of landscape attachment and mobility in a region rich in tool-stone resources.
Fairweather, J. H., George, A. D., & McDonald, J. (2025). Provenance analysis of stone artefact assemblages using petrography and pXRF at Murujuga (the Dampier Archipelago), Western Australia. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 66, 105334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105334
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Local—National—Global: Defining Indigenous Values of Murujuga’s Cultural Landscape in the Frame of International Patrimony
The pursuit of UNESCO World Heritage recognition for Murujuga, Australia, highlights a significant disconnect between Indigenous custodial values and the international framework of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). While the Ngarda-Ngarli people seek global validation to strengthen protection against industrial encroachment, their conceptualization of ngurra (country) as an integrated natural and cultural domain challenges UNESCO's binary distinction. This study demonstrates that World Heritage status could empower local custodianship but also underscores the need for frameworks that better align with Indigenous perspectives.
Stevens, A., & McDonald, J. (2024). Local—National—Global: Defining Indigenous Values of Murujuga’s Cultural Landscape in the Frame of International Patrimony. Deep-Time Images in the Age of Globalization, 219–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54638-9_15
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Without them – what then? People, petroglyphs and Murujuga
Murujuga, a culturally significant landscape with one of the world's largest concentrations of petroglyphs, has been successfully managed and protected through collaboration between five Aboriginal language groups and the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), despite historical conflicts in Australian rock art research. Unlike other regions marred by professional-amateur rivalries, Murujuga's preservation efforts have thrived due to political cooperation and partnerships with Traditional Owners, leading to its inclusion on Australia's National Heritage List (2007) and the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List (2020). The landscape's spiritual significance and unique stone arrangements, recognized through decades of advocacy, underscore the importance of Indigenous custodianship in safeguarding cultural heritage amid industrial pressures.
Mulvaney, K. (2022). Without them – what then? People, petroglyphs and Murujuga. Histories of Australian Rock Art Research, 155–172. https://doi.org/10.22459/ta55.2022.09
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Seeing and managing rock art at Nganjarli: A tourist destination in Murujuga National Park, Western Australia
Nganjarli, a key site within Murujuga National Park and the Dampier Archipelago National Heritage Place, has been identified as a primary destination for tourism due to its rich rock art, shell middens, and artifact scatters. The study reveals that Nganjarli has functioned as an aggregation locale over time, with archaeological evidence indicating early occupation phases. Innovative scientific approaches, including digital imaging and geochemical testing of lithic artifacts using X-ray fluorescence, have been crucial in interpreting the site's cultural significance. These findings, along with targeted shell harvesting patterns, have been integrated into upgraded tourist facilities to enhance visitor experience while respecting the cultural values and aspirations of Murujuga custodians.
McDonald, J., Mulvaney, K., Beckett, E., Fairweather, J., Morrison, P., de Koning, S., Dortch, J., & Jeffries, P. (2021). Seeing and managing rock art at Nganjarli: A tourist destination in Murujuga National Park, Western Australia. Australian Archaeology, 87(3), 268–293. https://doi.org/10.1080/03122417.2021.1978915
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
The integrated cultural landscape of North Gidley Island: Coastal, intertidal and nearshore archaeology in Murujuga (Dampier Archipelago), Western Australia
Recent archaeological research at Murujuga, Western Australia, reveals that Indigenous Australian cultural landscapes extend beyond modern shorelines into submerged and intertidal zones. The study demonstrates that sea-level fluctuations during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) exposed vast coastal areas, which were later inundated as sea levels rose. Submerged sites, such as those in the Cape Bruguieres channel and Gidley Islands, provide evidence of past human activity, including rock art engravings, grinding patches, quarries, and upstanding stones—some now located in intertidal zones. By integrating aerial, pedestrian, and intertidal surveys with subtidal data, researchers have reconstructed a continuous cultural landscape that spans both terrestrial and submerged environments, offering new insights into the depth and resilience of Indigenous Australian maritime traditions.
Leach, J., Wiseman, C., O’Leary, M., McDonald, J., McCarthy, J., Morrison, P., Jeffries, P., Hacker, J., Ulm, S., Bailey, G., & Benjamin, J. (2021). The integrated cultural landscape of North Gidley Island: Coastal, intertidal and nearshore archaeology in Murujuga (Dampier Archipelago), Western Australia. Australian Archaeology, 87(3), 251–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/03122417.2021.1949085
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Aboriginal artefacts on the continental shelf reveal ancient drowned cultural landscapes in northwest Australia
Researchers have uncovered Australia's first confirmed ancient underwater archaeological sites off the Murujuga coastline, revealing evidence of drowned cultural landscapes submerged by rising sea levels. Two key sites were identified: Cape Bruguieres, with over 260 lithic artefacts at depths up to -2.4 meters, and Flying Foam Passage, linked to a submerged freshwater spring at -14 meters. Using advanced remote sensing techniques and predictive mapping, the study analyzed artefact conditions and geomorphological data to determine that these sites were inundated no later than 7000–8500 years ago. The findings highlight significant differences between underwater and onshore lithic assemblages, supporting the chronological interpretation. This groundbreaking work establishes new strategies for detecting submerged archaeological targets and underscores the urgent need for legislative protection of Australia's vast drowned landscapes, which hold critical clues to its ancient human history.
Benjamin, J., O’Leary, M., McDonald, J., Wiseman, C., McCarthy, J., Beckett, E., Morrison, P., Stankiewicz, F., Leach, J., Hacker, J., Baggaley, P., Jerbić, K., Fowler, M., Fairweather, J., Jeffries, P., Ulm, S., & Bailey, G. (2020). Aboriginal artefacts on the continental shelf reveal ancient drowned cultural landscapes in northwest Australia. Plos One, 15(7), e0233912. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233912
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Protecting past, present and progress: the reality of coexistence with National and World Heritage properties
A study on Murujuga, also known as the Dampier Archipelago, reveals that coexistence between industrial operations and cultural heritage can yield significant benefits while posing substantial challenges. The research highlights that formalizing and enumerating heritage values enhances targeted management, stakeholder collaboration, impact assessment, and a values-driven approach. However, it also identifies difficulties such as increased regulation, activism, and reputational risks. Despite these challenges, the study notes that certain structures inherent in heritage listing can be leveraged to mitigate these issues. The findings underscore the potential for positive outcomes when balancing industrial development with the preservation of cultural landscapes.
Thomas, D. (2020). Protecting past, present and progress: the reality of coexistence with National and World Heritage properties. The APPEA Journal, 60(2), 544–547. https://doi.org/10.1071/aj19136
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Seeing the Landscape: Multiple Scales of Visualising Terrestrial Heritage on Rosemary Island (Dampier Archipelago)
A combination of photogrammetry, LiDAR, and microphotography reveals the potential for remote sensing techniques to document and reconstruct Aboriginal stone structures on Rosemary Island (Murujuga), offering insights into their distribution and resilience to sea-level rise. The study highlights how these methods can be used to detect similar submerged features in adjacent waters, while also acknowledging challenges posed by naturally rocky and spinifex-covered landscapes. Topographic LiDAR surveys conducted before and after a wildfire further demonstrate the utility—and limitations—of such techniques for understanding terrestrial heritage in dynamic environments.
McDonald, J., Beckett, E., Hacker, J., Morrison, P., & O’Leary, M. (2020). Seeing the Landscape: Multiple Scales of Visualising Terrestrial Heritage on Rosemary Island (Dampier Archipelago). Open Quaternary, 6. https://doi.org/10.5334/oq.81
View Publication Record | Read Publication -
Murujuga, Northwestern Australia: When Arid Hunter-Gatherers Became Coastal Foragers
Research at Murujuga, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape in northwestern Australia, reveals the transition of arid hunter-gatherers to coastal foragers during the early Holocene. The study provides evidence for Australia's earliest domestic stone structures, dated between 8063 and 7355 cal BP, on Rosemary Island, challenging assumptions about island abandonment and recolonization. By integrating a 47,000-year occupation sequence from the Pilbara region with predictive models of sea-level rise, the research offers insights into how mobile arid hunter-fisher-gatherers adapted to changing seascape dynamics. This work not only advances our understanding of human adaptation in coastal environments but also contributes to the broader narrative of insular abandonment and resilience.
McDonald, J., & Berry, M. (2016). Murujuga, Northwestern Australia: When Arid Hunter-Gatherers Became Coastal Foragers. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 12(1), 24–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564894.2015.1125971
View Publication Record | Read Publication
