Submerged Stone Tools Near Murujuga May Predate Sea-Level Rise 9,000 Years Ago
A team including Indigenous Rangers and archaeologists found stone tools at two underwater locations near Murujuga, Western Australia. Because the sea covered these areas at least 9,000 years ago, the tools may be older than that. The research appears in Quaternary Science Reviews.
Archaeologists working with Indigenous Rangers discovered stone tools at two sites now beneath the sea near Murujuga, Western Australia. The finds suggest people used these spots before they were submerged.
Since the ocean covered the locations at least 9,000 years ago, any artifacts there could be older than that date. The study, published in Quaternary Science Reviews, adds to understanding of ancient coastal occupation and sea-level change.
The findings could matter most to Indigenous communities connected to Murujuga, whose heritage may include submerged landscapes, and to archaeologists studying early coastal life. They may also affect how underwater cultural sites are documented and protected. Public understanding of human responses to sea-level change could grow, though the tools' age and significance remain subject to further research. This may encourage collaboration between Indigenous Rangers and scientists, but any social impact will depend on confirmation and interpretation.