Underwater archaeology reveals ancient Aboriginal settlements off Australia

A team of archaeologists and Indigenous rangers has successfully documented two underwater archaeological sites off the coast of Murujuga in Western Australia, revealing traces of human settlement dating to periods before sea level rise fundamentally altered the region's geography. The research initiative brought together expertise from multiple universities alongside local Indigenous knowledge holders to systematically explore these submerged locations.

The investigation uncovered various artefacts and physical evidence indicative of sustained human activity at both sites. One notable finding involved a stone that researchers traced across a distance of approximately 23 kilometres, suggesting patterns of movement and resource exchange among ancient populations. The two key locations examined demonstrated distinct evidence of interaction with freshwater resources and elevated terrain features that would have been accessible during periods of lower sea levels.

The collaborative approach proved central to the research methodology, with Indigenous rangers contributing specialized knowledge of the region's cultural landscape and oral traditions. This partnership underscored the vital role that Indigenous expertise plays in interpreting and contextualizing archaeological discoveries within their proper cultural and historical frameworks.

The findings contribute to broader understanding of human settlement patterns in the Indo-Pacific region and demonstrate how submerged archaeological sites can reveal crucial information about past populations and their adaptation to environmental change. The research team's work at Murujuga adds to growing evidence of extensive Aboriginal occupation along Australia's ancient coastlines before post-glacial sea level rise inundated these landscapes approximately 10,000 years ago.