Image Credit: Marius Fenger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Water and Clay Reshape Archaeological Evidence at Murujuga

New research has shown that water movement within clay-rich soils can gradually push stone artefacts toward the ground surface, influencing how archaeological materials appear across certain landscapes. This natural process plays a significant role in shaping the visible archaeological record.
The study, published in Archaeometry, examined a clay-rich sediment basin within the Murujuga Cultural Landscape in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Researchers focused on how soil composition and moisture cycles affect the movement and distribution of artefacts over time.
Through controlled wetting and drying experiments on different soil types, the team demonstrated that swelling clays expand when wet and contract as they dry. These repeated cycles cause subtle but continuous soil movement, gradually lifting stone artefacts upward and mixing them within the soil layers.
Advanced techniques, including soil mineral analysis, CT scanning, and 3D imaging, were used to track how water interacts with clay minerals and how artefacts shift within the sediment. The results showed that surface concentrations of stone artefacts do not necessarily reflect their original place or time of deposition and may represent materials from different periods of human activity.
The research highlights the importance of integrating soil science, geomorphology, and archaeology when interpreting cultural landscapes, particularly in clay-dominated environments common in northern Australia. It also underscores the value of collaboration with Traditional Owners and Custodians in understanding the complex interaction between natural processes and cultural heritage at Murujuga.

Published on: 15-12-2025

Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie

Source: The University of Western Australia