
Desert to the Sea: Managing Rock Art, Country and Culture
2022 – 2027
Project Overview
This Project will expand our understanding of Aboriginal settlement and land-use in north-west Australia by investigating how the mythological narratives of Australia’s deserts enable the transmission of knowledge in water-limited environments.
The Project will bring together Indigenous knowledge and western scientific approaches to improve management outcomes for Indigenous ranger groups managing vast cultural estates with significant rock art.
To achieve this Project’s ambitious goals, our researchers and collaborators are organised into four interrelated Research Nodes:

Chief Investigators

Jo McDonald
Lead CI UWA

Pauline Grierson
UWA

Peter Veth
UWA

Richard Fullagar
UWA

Stephen van Leeuwen
Curtin University

Judith Field
UNSW

Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
University of Melbourne

Emilie Dotte-Sarout
UWA
Partner Investigators

Peter Jeffries
MAC

Annie Carson
WA Museum

Douglas Bird
Pennsylvania State

Alicia Whittington
DBCA

Stefani Crabtree
Utah State University

Justin McKinnon
Desert Support Services

Sharon Reynolds
Woodside
Collaborating Researchers

India Dilkes-Hall
Archaeobotanist

Michi Meyer
Botanist & Zoologist

John Stanton
Anthropologist

Sarah Bourke
Hydrogeologist
Project Staff

Sam Harper
Project Manager

Peter Kendrik
Zoologist/ Logistics

Sarah de Koning
Database Manager

Elly
Collections

Emma Beckett
Heritage Liaison Officer

Ron Witt
Logistics

Chae Byrne
Anthracologist
Students

Logan Brauer
PhD Candidate - Water

Vinicius Fiumari
PhD - Residue + Usewear

Leia Corrie
Honours - Fire
Partners
This ARC Funded Linkage Project (LP200300886) is administered at The University of Western Australia, with chief investigators at Curtin University, The University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales, The Pennsylvania State University, Utah State University, in collaboration with partner organisations Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), Mungarlu Ngurrarankatja Rirraunkaja Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (MNR), and Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC), with funding from Woodside, BHP, Newcrest Mining, and with partner investigators from the Western Australian Museum, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and Desert Support Services.

















