Hope Downs

Date: 2008 - 2010

Location: East Pilbara, WA

ACHM were engaged by the Martidja Banjima (MIB) native title claimants to undertake archaeological survey, excavation and mitigative salvage work for Rio Tinto's Hope Downs mine development.

The project included the archaeological excavation of 27 rock shelters. Importantly, this project documented Pleistocene occupational sequences demonstrating Aboriginal occupation of the Hamersley Range from 41,000 years ago, and possibly as early as 47,000 years ago. These results extend the known antiquity of the Aboriginal occupation of the inland Pilbara by a minimum of 10,000 years.