Abstract
The Dampier Rock Art Precinct contains the largest and most ancient collection of Aboriginal rock art in Australia. The cultural landscape created by generations of Aboriginal people includes images of long-extinct fauna and demonstrates the response of peoples to a changing climate over thousands of years as well as the continuity of lived experience. 
 
 Despite Australian national heritage listing in 2007, this cultural landscape continues to be threatened by industrial development. Rock art on the eastern side of the archipelago, on the Burrup Peninsula, was relocated following the discovery of adjacent off-shore gas reserves so that a major gas plant could be constructed. Work has now begun on the construction of a second major gas plant nearby. 
 
 This article describes the rock art of the Dampier Archipelago and the troubled history of European-Aboriginal contact history, before examining the impact of industry on the region and its environment. The destruction of Aboriginal rock art to meet the needs of industry is an example of continuing indifference to Aboriginal culture. While the complex struggle to protect the cultural landscape of the Burrup, in particular, involving Indigenous people, archaeologists, historians, state and federal politicians, government bureaucrats and multi-national companies, eventually led to national heritage listing, it is not clear that the battle to save the Burrup has been won.
Highlights
In July 2007 the Federal Government announced that the Dampier Rock Art Precinct was to be listed on the Australian National Heritage list
Geological information and evidence from petroglyphs indicate that about 10,500 years ago there was a wide range of animals and birds in the area and as the sea level continued to rise and the Archipelago took on its present form about 6000 years ago, marine animals were increasingly used as a resource.[5]
In 2005, as part of the assessment of the site for national heritage listing, a report on the heritage of the Dampier Archipelago, via a desktop study reviewing existing studies highlighted the outstanding significance of the rock art, concluded that the entire area should be regarded as a continuous archaeological landscape.[43]
Summary
In July 2007 the Federal Government announced that the Dampier Rock Art Precinct was to be listed on the Australian National Heritage list. In 2005, as part of the assessment of the site for national heritage listing, a report on the heritage of the Dampier Archipelago, via a desktop study reviewing existing studies highlighted the outstanding significance of the rock art, concluded that the entire area should be regarded as a continuous archaeological landscape.[43]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
