Anthropos Australis, the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation and the Yindjibandi Aboriginal Corporation Joint Heritage Agreement

We are very pleased to announce that Anthropos Australis (WA) Pty Ltd, the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation and the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation are undertaking a joint Heritage Project. This collaborative project involves the excavation of a potentially significant stratified site near the Harding River within the Shire of Roebourne in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia.

On Monday 9th September, the two Corporations, together with Anthropos Australis, signed an Agreement to work collaboratively together to undertake this project.  This Agreement is significant, as it means that both Corporations will work together, will be able to share their unique knowledge about their traditional country in a manner that will ensure that the Ngarluma and Yindjbarndi Traditional Owners own their intellectual property and own the entire project from its commencement to the production of the results.

The particular site is in danger as it is located on a creek bank and is eroding away which will result in any valuable scientific and cultural information being lost if the project is not undertaken soon.  It is planned to undertake the excavation of the site in October 2013, with the participation of Ngarluma and Yindibarndi people.  The project has received support from the Australian Government's Your Community Heritage Program, and we are very grateful for their support.  Additional funding is being sought from several sources to ensure that the project is successful and meets the expectations of all participants.  Kirsty Potts and Shannon Smith of Anthropos Australis, along with Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi representatives, have been accepted to present a paper on the project at the Australian Archaeological Association Conference to be held at Coffs Harbour in December 2013.