Murujuga — Submerged Petroglyph Terrace (Dampier, Australia)
Murujuga Terrace
Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)·Bronze–Iron Age maritime·🇦🇺 Western Australia, Murujuga, Dampier, Australia
About
About Murujuga — Submerged Petroglyph Terrace (Dampier, Australia)
Murujuga — Submerged Petroglyph Terrace (Dampier, Australia) in Western Australia, Murujuga, Dampier, Australia is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) submerged city attributed to Bronze–Iron Age maritime. Systematic survey and photogrammetry document stratified harbour deposits. The site includes a principal platform and ancillary settlement. Dimensions grid 210 m × 180 m; mole 85 m long × 7 m wide; area 18.6 ha. Excavation ongoing; condition submerged 3–6 m. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze–Iron Age maritime submerged-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at -12 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction technique
- 02Function and labor organization
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1500 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Bronze–Iron Age maritime
- Purpose
- Submerged harbour and urban insulae under sea
- Rediscovered
- 1913
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 1500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1064 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1935
Modern rediscovery and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
20.5900° S · 116.7900° E · -12 m · 4 mapped features
North Quay Mole
moleNorth Quay Mole at Murujuga — Submerged Petroglyph Terrace (Dampier, Australia) — mole with stratified deposits
20.5906° S · 116.7908° EStreet Grid Insula
insulaStreet Grid Insula at Murujuga — Submerged Petroglyph Terrace (Dampier, Australia) — insula with stratified deposits
20.5911° S · 116.7912° EHarbour Basin
basinHarbour Basin at Murujuga — Submerged Petroglyph Terrace (Dampier, Australia) — basin with stratified deposits
20.5897° S · 116.7883° EWarehouse Terrace
warehouseWarehouse Terrace at Murujuga — Submerged Petroglyph Terrace (Dampier, Australia) — warehouse with stratified deposits
20.5905° S · 116.7914° E