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 Indigenous sandstone rock art sites which are at risk of permanent loss. This project aims to develop an innovative approach to rock art conservation by integrating Indigenous knowledge into decision-making processes, while pioneering the use of new femtosecond (fs) lasers for cleaning stone without causing surface damage, and robotic control of the fs laser system. Expected outcomes include a novel governance framework, and a sustainable method for preserving culture. This should yield significant benefits across environmental, cultural and economic sectors, protecting the environment, and enhancing cultural tourism and Indigenous job opportunities.