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