New research suggests that ancient carvings at Murujuga in Western Australia may have been affected more extensively than once believed, with industrial air emissions playing a key role in the deterioration.
Located on the Burrup Peninsula, about 932 miles north of Perth, Murujuga holds one of the world's richest concentrations of petroglyphs, with tens of thousands of engravings that trace back roughly 50,000 years. The figures include animals, spiritual symbols, and stories tied to deep cultural memory.
The latest Rock Art Monitoring Report, developed over three years by members of the peninsula's five Aboriginal language groups alongside more than 50 scientists from Curtin University, found that carvings closest to industrial sites showed faster surface change than expected. The report points to historical sulfur dioxide exposure from fuel combustion as the strongest factor behind the altered rock surfaces.
Researchers noted that the most visible changes involve the rocks' porosity, which can shift when exposed to emissions over long periods. At the same time, the study says modern fuel standards have reduced sulfur levels significantly compared with earlier decades.
The findings arrive as Murujuga's global cultural profile continues to rise through its UNESCO World Heritage recognition. Local custodians say the monitoring work is helping build a stronger scientific foundation for long-term protection, while collaboration between Traditional Owners, researchers, and public institutions remains central to future care of the site.
As conservation science and Indigenous stewardship move forward together, Murujuga could become a model for how heritage landscapes are protected in an industrial age.
