Vandalism at Aboriginal sites at Marandoo
The cave at Marandoo where evidence of occupation going back
18,000 years was found, has been vandalised by heavy equipment.
In the past 6 weeks a drilling rig has put a hole through the
ground above tha cave, through the roof and through the floor,
damaging deposits and evidence that has yet to be properly
excavated. Archaeologists were to conduct 'salvage' work in the
cave, but Hamersley Iron, the company that owns the Marandoo
lease, has found excuses which have prevented any work being
carried out. The cave is right in the location of the proposed
mine.
Additional vandalism includes the front of the cave being pulled
away, presumably in the hope that the cave would collapse. A
railway sleeper was wedged into a crack in the ground above the
cave. It was hit into the crack so firmly that it is now stuck,
leaving no doubt as to the objective of the vandals, the
destruction of the cave. The damage is of such a scale that it
could only have been done with aheavy machinery.
The archaeological significance of the site lies in the date of
occupation found in a preliminary excavation. 18,000 years ago the
area was inhospitable and arid, posing a number of questions about
the reason for Aboriginal people being there.
This vandalism has been left unreported by the WA Aboriginal Sites
Department, and represents the first sep in the destruction of a
large area of land in conflict with the wishes of the local
Aboriginal people, represented by the Karijini Association.