Historic sulfur emissions—the likely cause of damage to Murujuga rock art
Murujuga is a sacred cultural landscape of land and sea Country across the Burrup Peninsula and Dampier Archipelago in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
Murujuga, a culturally significant landscape in Western Australia, is home to an estimated 1 to 2 million petroglyphs that hold deep meaning for the Ngarda-Ngarli Traditional Owners. These carvings tell stories of the relationship between the people and the land over at least 50,000 years. The site recently gained UNESCO World Heritage status, raising awareness of the potential impact of industrial pollution on the rock art.
However, new research suggests that historic sulphur dioxide emissions may be the primary cause of the deterioration observed in the rock surfaces near industrial areas. This conclusion is based on a three-year monitoring program, which has observed a statistically significant increase in porosity in rocks closer to industrial sites.
The research points to historic peaks in sulphur dioxide, rather than current emissions, as the most relevant factor. While current air pollution does not seem to be accelerating rock deterioration, ongoing monitoring will continue to ensure the protection of the rock art.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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