Damage to two sacred Aboriginal petroglyph sites on Tasmania's west coast has sparked renewed calls for protection of the areas to be strengthened.
The Natural Resources and Environment Department has launched an investigation into damage reported to rock carvings near Trial Harbour, north of Strahan.
Rebecca Digney from the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania said she was "absolutely devastated", with initial information suggesting they had been vandalised.
"The petroglyphs appear to have been vandalised using a chisel or some sort of stone-working tool, we don't know much more except to say that it's significant," she said.
"Here we are in 2022 and we are fighting harder and more than ever to protect our sacred sites from mindless acts of vandalism. Words fail me, it is just a real kick in the teeth for the community."
In a statement, the department said it would work with Aboriginal community representatives as part of the investigation.
A separate investigation was launched last week after damage was reported to the petroglyph site at Sundown Point in the state's far north-west.
It found the damage, which the department described as a "missing rock", was caused by natural forces.
"The damage at the petroglyph site is consistent with the rock breaking along a natural fracture line as a result of natural weathering effects and storm waves, which are common in the area.
"Large driftwood logs battering the rock during storm activity may also be a contributing factor," the Department said.
Despite assessments by a geophysicist, archaeologist and Aboriginal heritage adviser, Ms Digney said the ALCT rejected the findings.
Coastline rich with history
There is a vast network of petroglyph sites dotted around Tasmania's coast.
Rodney Dillon from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Heritage Council said the state's Aboriginal Heritage Act needed to be strengthened to better protect the sites.
"They are reflections of who we are. They are our museum. It's part of our history gone each time they are damaged. We can't get that back," he said.
"We need more preventative measures to stop people from doing this in the first place."
Mr Dillon suggested installing cameras could be an option, but it was only part of the solution.
"Better education is needed to explain the importance and the significance of these sites," he said.
"There's a lot of good people out there that want to protect our sites, it is just a very minor group of people that have this sort of behaviour."
Ms Digney described the act as "outdated" and said urgent reform was needed.
"There needs to be legislative recognition that Aboriginal heritage is owned by Aboriginal people. The current regime vests ownership of Aboriginal heritage in the Crown," she said.
The department said both sites were protected under the act, with offenders facing a maximum fine of $865,000 if caught interfering with Aboriginal cultural material.
Anyone with information on the missing piece or pieces at Sundown Point or the damage at Trial Harbour is asked to contact the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service or Crime Stoppers.
