New archaeological finds have emerged from shallow waters near the Pilbara coast in Western Australia, according to recent fieldwork reports. Researchers describe an exceptional discovery of preserved stone artifacts that appear to be of artificial origin, located at depths reaching up to 14 meters below the surface.
The underwater site lies in the Dampier Archipelago region, within a channel once connected to the Fugitive Foam Strait. Dating suggests the artifacts are at least 9,000 years old. The surrounding landscape indicates that this area was inhabited during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene, before rising seas flooded the region at the close of the last Ice Age. In total, five stone artifacts have been recovered from the site.
Experts note that the discovery confirms the presence of a previously unknown ancient freshwater source accessible by divers. Each dive window was limited to about 40 minutes, when ocean currents were at their lowest, allowing the team to carefully explore the submerged channel. The broader Australian continental shelf remains largely unexplored to depths exceeding 130 meters, suggesting a vast submerged cultural landscape spanning millions of square kilometers waiting to be studied. These findings reinforce the argument for formal state protection of this region as a monument, given their significance to Australia’s historical heritage.
In a separate historical note, records mention the discovery of an ancient Roman amphora bearing poems attributed to the poet Virgil in Cordoba, illustrating a long history of underwater artifacts turning up in diverse locations.