The Kariong Glyphs site is the most argued over and controversial archaeological site in Australia. Researchers say new discoveries around the mysterious 'Gosford Hieroglyphs' site on the New South Wales Central Coast, have re-ignited debate over whether the region was once visited by ancient Egyptians. The glyphs site at Kariong features almost 300 engravings on two large sandstone walls, which some believe contain examples of an early form of Egyptian writing. Since their discovery in the 1970s, they have long been dismissed as fakes by authorities and most experts but there are still ongoing attempts to prove the theory they were carved by ancient Egyptians several thousand years ago. Over the past three decades, many theories have been put up to explain how the extensive engravings came to be, including that they were the work of a group of Sydney University students. But a group of researchers led by historian Steven Strong has recently discovered a new smaller set of hieroglyphs nearby, and is also investigating a complex, labyrinth of angular tunnels cut deep into the rock beneath the original set of engravings. "It has been carved," he said. "It is straight and nature doesn't do straight lines. "There's a second shaft that runs down and the third one is a gallery that is big enough to park a car in." Mr Strong says new evidence has come to light. "The things that have been found next to it, alongside and around the walls that needs to be factored in," he said. The group is also working with local indigenous elders, who have spoken out about the 'glyphs' for the first time. Steven Strong says the indigenous oral tradition, which is passed down from generation to generation, does accept there was an ancient Egyptian presence on this land. "I listen to the original people for my history," he said. He says with their help, a human bone fragment and jewellery have also been found in the area around the glyphs - adding to the mystery surrounding the site. Mr Strong says preliminary scans recently carried out on the bone conclude it has the same density as a human bone. "Now these are factual things that we're finding and then I've also been given a metal piece of jewellery that doesn't have iron or lead, it's got a figure of someone kneeling on it and there it is right between the two walls," he said. "These are things that don't relate to the walls but it's all around the walls." The discoveries have sparked renewed interest in the mysterious site, and the group plans to carry out a more extensive study of the region next year. http://www.jamesswagger.com/ Interview by James Swagger with Steven and Evan Strong @ Capricorn Radio

• published: 07 Jun 2014
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