Ancient Aboriginal rock art, African sites make UNESCO World Heritage list
Located on the Burrup peninsula in Western Australia, Murujuga is home to the Mardudunera people, who declared themselves 'overjoyed' when UNESCO gave the ancient site a coveted place on its list on Friday.
'These carvings are what our ancestors left here for us to learn and keep their knowledge and keep our culture thriving through these sacred sites,' said Mark Clifton, a member of the Aboriginal delegation meeting with UNESCO representatives in Paris.
Environmental and Indigenous organisations argue that the presence of mining groups emitting industrial emissions has already caused damage to the ancient site.
Benjamin Smith, a rock art specialist at the University of Western Australia, said Murujuga was 'possibly the most important rock art site in the world', but that mining activity was causing the rock art to 'break down'.
'We should be looking after it,' he said.
Australian company Woodside Energy, which operates an industrial complex in the area, told news agency AFP that it recognised Murujuga as 'one of Australia's most culturally significant landscapes' and that it was taking 'proactive steps … to ensure we manage our impacts responsibly'.
Delegation leader Raelene Cooper said the UNESCO listing sent 'a clear signal to the Australian Government and Woodside that things need to change'.
Making the UNESCO's heritage list does not in itself trigger protection for a site, but can help pressure national governments into taking action.
African heritage boosted
Cameroon's Mandara Mountains and Malawi's Mount Mulanje were also added to the latest edition of the UNESCO World Heritage list.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has presented Africa as a priority during her two terms in office, although the continent remains underrepresented.
The Diy-Gid-Biy landscape of the Mandara Mountains, in the far north of Cameroon, consists of archaeological sites, probably created between the 12th and 17th centuries.
Malawi's Mount Mulanje, in the south of the country, is considered a sacred place inhabited by gods, spirits and ancestors.
UNESCO is also considering applications from two other African countries, namely the Gola Tiwai forests in Sierra Leone and the biosphere reserve of the Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau.
On Friday, UNESCO also listed three notorious Cambodian torture and execution sites used by the Khmer Rouge regime to perpetrate genocide 50 years ago.
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Al Jazeera
11-07-2025
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Ancient Aboriginal rock art, African sites make UNESCO World Heritage list
The United Nations cultural organisation has added a remote Aboriginal site featuring one million carvings that potentially date back 50,000 years to its World Heritage list. Located on the Burrup peninsula in Western Australia, Murujuga is home to the Mardudunera people, who declared themselves 'overjoyed' when UNESCO gave the ancient site a coveted place on its list on Friday. 'These carvings are what our ancestors left here for us to learn and keep their knowledge and keep our culture thriving through these sacred sites,' said Mark Clifton, a member of the Aboriginal delegation meeting with UNESCO representatives in Paris. Environmental and Indigenous organisations argue that the presence of mining groups emitting industrial emissions has already caused damage to the ancient site. Benjamin Smith, a rock art specialist at the University of Western Australia, said Murujuga was 'possibly the most important rock art site in the world', but that mining activity was causing the rock art to 'break down'. 'We should be looking after it,' he said. Australian company Woodside Energy, which operates an industrial complex in the area, told news agency AFP that it recognised Murujuga as 'one of Australia's most culturally significant landscapes' and that it was taking 'proactive steps … to ensure we manage our impacts responsibly'. Delegation leader Raelene Cooper said the UNESCO listing sent 'a clear signal to the Australian Government and Woodside that things need to change'. Making the UNESCO's heritage list does not in itself trigger protection for a site, but can help pressure national governments into taking action. African heritage boosted Cameroon's Mandara Mountains and Malawi's Mount Mulanje were also added to the latest edition of the UNESCO World Heritage list. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has presented Africa as a priority during her two terms in office, although the continent remains underrepresented. The Diy-Gid-Biy landscape of the Mandara Mountains, in the far north of Cameroon, consists of archaeological sites, probably created between the 12th and 17th centuries. Malawi's Mount Mulanje, in the south of the country, is considered a sacred place inhabited by gods, spirits and ancestors. UNESCO is also considering applications from two other African countries, namely the Gola Tiwai forests in Sierra Leone and the biosphere reserve of the Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau. On Friday, UNESCO also listed three notorious Cambodian torture and execution sites used by the Khmer Rouge regime to perpetrate genocide 50 years ago.
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'If she wants to support the people of Yuendumu and people concerned about this, then the best thing she can do is use her powerful voice to call for calm and confidence in the NT Police Force,' Finocchiaro said. The Justice Not Jails advocacy group said the Country Liberal Party's 'tough on crime' approach in the Northern Territory had contributed to increased policing of Aboriginal people like White, in the lead up to his death. 'Kumanjayi White's death has occurred in the context of the CLP's relentless and racist attacks on Aboriginal families and communities,' Justice Not Jails said in a statement. 'These attacks include reforms to bail and sentencing that have significantly increased the number of Aboriginal people in prison, increasing the risk of further deaths in custody,' the group said. A candlelight vigil was held for White in Sydney on Sunday, with more protests planned around Australia in the coming days. 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White's grandfather Hargraves pointed out that his grandson died on the fifth anniversary of the death of George Floyd, whose death in the United States prompted worldwide Black Lives Matter protests. White's death also occurred during Reconciliation Week in Australia, he added. 'I am angry and frustrated that yet another one of our young men has lost his life at the hands of the police,' Hargraves said. 'Has our community not gone through enough?'A post shared by Justiceforwalker_ (@justiceforwalker_)
