Rock art under threat

Friday 15 November 2002

Robert Bednarik has published this web page about the threatened destruction of a rich collection of Indigenous rock art in north-western Australia:

In an unprecedented decision, unique in the legal history of Australia, the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) has on 9 November 2002 called for public submissions for a case currently before it. It is the extraordinary case of the Western Australian government versus the Aboriginal communities in the Dampier region. The case deals with the land on which the Dampier Rock Art Precinct, the largest concentration of petroglyphs known in the world, occurs. In response to IFRAO’s proposal that this constitutes a world heritage property, the NNTT has recognised that there is a major public interest component involved and, in the face of vigorous protests by the government, has ruled that it wishes to receive public submissions on the matter.

Murujuga petroglyphs [image from Robert Bednarik's web page]

filed under Archaeology + Conservation + Society

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