An archaeologist working in collaboration with Aboriginal Traditional Owners to protect Pilbara rock art and important heritage places has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship.

Professor Jo McDonald, from UWA’s School of Social Sciences and Director of UWA’s Centre of Rock Art Research + Management, was awarded one of 17 Australian Laureate Fellowships by the Australian Research Council.

Professor McDonald’s project Pilbara Dreaming: Rock Art, Water and Heritage Futures was awarded $3,916,944.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anna Nowak congratulated Professor McDonald on the outstanding achievement.

“This is a wonderful example of excellence in research which carries deep significance for our unique place in the world, as well as being globally important,” Professor Nowak said.

Professor McDonald’s project is based in the Pilbara, a region with mineral wealth crucial to Australia’s economy, where mining activity already covers 55 per cent of the land.  

Pilbara rock art reveals how people entered and persisted in the Australian arid zone, from 50,000 years ago to the present but there is no heritage conservation strategy to protect the region’s cultural assets.

“The interconnectivity of creation stories, art and water provides a unique lens on intergenerational knowledge sharing and cultural connections,” Professor McDonald said.

“This collaboration with Aboriginal Traditional Owners will reform policy and lead to improved conservation of heritage places of global significance.”

The Fellowship scheme supports world-class researchers to conduct research in Australia, forge strong local and international links across the research community, and train and mentor early-career researchers.