Jo McDonald, Ken Mulvaney, Emma Beckett, Sarah de Koning
Almost 29,000 motifs and 600+ stone structures were recorded across the Burrup by the MLP – at Ancient Pool and Watering Cove – and during 12 years of the UWA/MAC/RioTinto field schools.
In this chapter we recorded 8 sample areas and over 3,000 motifs systematically at the north-eastern end of Burrup Peninsula, showing a deep time focus for artists, which continued after sea level rise when the focus shifted to an interior semi-permanent pool. A range of landscapes from the central and southern Burrup have been documented by the annual field schools.
The combined field school records, early Deep Gorge transect recording for management purposes, and MLP recording means we have data on over 28,000 motifs for the Burrup Peninsula from its two dominant geologies: granophyre and gabbro.
Field schools have identified significant national heritage values in lands which are zoned for potential future industrial uses, as well as providing data for management and interpretation within the conservation estate.
Terrestrial themes are dominant in several locations associated with major water sources (e.g. Nganjarli, Happy Valley and Hunters Valley), while maritime themes are dominant at Picnic Creek (particularly turtles) near Withnell Bay and at King Bay (particularly fish).
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All photographs within this monograph were taken by CRAR+M researchers, partners and students, and have been given cultural approval for publication by Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. Future use of imagery would require additional permissions from Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and CRAR+M.
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