Aboriginal sites

What is an Aboriginal site?

Aboriginal sites are places of importance and significance to Aboriginal people and to the cultural heritage of Western Australia. Aboriginal sites are significant because they link Aboriginal cultural tradition to place, land and people over time. Aboriginal sites are as important today as they were many thousands of years ago and will continue to be an integral part of the lives of Aboriginal people and the heritage of Western Australia.

Sites can be a diverse range of places. They can be put into two basic but overlapping categories:

Archaeological sites – places where material remains associate with past Aboriginal land use.

Anthropological sites – places of spiritual importance and significance to Aboriginal people.

All sites have both archaeological and anthropological aspects.

Definitions of various types of sites in Western Australia

Aboriginal cultural heritage sites can be found all over Western Australia in urban, rural and remote areas. They are most common near rivers, lakes, swamps, hills and the coast.

Click here for the definitions of the various site types in WA.

In Western Australia the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 protects all Aboriginal sites. It is against the law to disturb a site or to remove artefacts. For more information about protecting Aboriginal heritage click here.