Conserving heritage in stone: culture and lasers in partnership

There is an urgent worldwide need to find an effective method to conserve heritage, such as Indigenoussandstone rock art sites which are at risk of permanent loss. This project aims to develop an innovative approachto rock art conservation by integrating Indigenous knowledge into decision-making processes, while pioneeringthe use of new femtosecond (fs) lasers for cleaning stone without causing surface damage, and robotic control ofthe fs laser system. Expected outcomes include a novel governance framework, and a sustainable method forpreserving culture. This should yield significant benefits across environmental, cultural and economic sectors,protecting the environment, and enhancing cultural tourism and Indigenous job opportunities.