TRADITIONAL OWNERS LEAD DIG UNCOVERING THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY AT CAPE RANGE
BY ASAD KHAN AND TANGIORA HINAKI
A major Traditional Owner-led dig in Western Australia’s Cape Range has uncovered deep cultural histories through the use of cutting-edge mapping technology, with evidence of life on Country stretching back thousands of years.
Globally recognised archaeologist Professor Peter Veth led the scientific team, working alongside more than 30 Traditional Owners, Indigenous World Heritage rangers, and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
The two-week fieldwork focused on two sites: Bachakuru, a massive midden estimated at 6,000 years old, and a rock shelter south of Mandu Mandu, previously recorded with Traditional Owners.
Both yielded extraordinary finds, including grinding stones, ancient shell beads, and the remains of animals, such as bettongs and long-nosed bandicoots, that are no longer found in the area.
“These species likely disappeared after the introduction of cats, foxes and pastoral activity,” Professor Veth said.
“The deposits are in such good condition that we’ll be able to precisely date when those changes happened, which is vital for future ecological management.”
Key to the project’s success was the use of advanced spatial tools, including a robotic station, which allowed the team to map artefacts across vast areas with precision.
“This is the first time we’ve recorded midden sites in WA using this level of spatial detail,” Professor Veth said.
“We’re now able to reconstruct how people lived—where they camped, cooked, and processed food like turtle and dugong—going back 500 to 10,000 years.”
The project was directed by a Joint Management Board of Native Title holders and Traditional Owners, with participation from groups across the Gascoyne.
A Coral Bay filmmaker was brought in at the request of Traditional Owners to document the work and record oral histories.
The resulting film focuses on Ja Manga rock shelter, which may contain a cultural record up to 40,000 years old.
Among the finds were shell beads likely worn as necklaces thousands of years ago—what Professor Veth describes as “tangible links to people’s daily lives.”
With growing concern around the protection of sacred sites, particularly after the destruction at Juukan Gorge, Traditional Owner groups are building strong cultural databases backed by high-resolution archaeological evidence.
“Our data feeds directly into these community-held records,” Professor Veth said.
“It strengthens their ability to defend sites from future development—whether it’s roads, mining, or anything else.”
Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Tangiora Hinaki speak with Professor Peter Veth: