The site at Randwick where the artefacts were found. (NITV)

The site at Randwick where the artefacts were found. (NITV) Source: NITV

Bidjigal traditional owners say a riot squad was present when they were denied access on Thursday to a Sydney light rail construction site where thousands of Aboriginal artefacts have been found.

Bidjigal traditional owner Assen Timbery says police in riot gear and an Aboriginal liaison officer were present when traditional owners arrived at a light rail construction site in Randwick, Sydney, on Thursday.

"They send the riot squad to take four old people," Timbery says. "It's just ridiculous what's going on.

"All we want to do is get on the site and have a look."

More than 21,000 thousand artefacts, believed to be 3,000 years old, have already been excavated at the eastern Sydney site and safely stored.

But heritage reports show that thousands more could be at risk of damage if construction continues.

RELATED STORIES Artefact find prompts emergency heritage appeal to halt light rail construction An emergency application has been lodged to stop work on the site where thousands of Indigenous artefacts were uncovered during construction of the Sydney light rail amid concerns that it may be the site of a massacre. Huge Indigenous artefacts find in Sydney: why is it so significant? The discovery of more than 22,000 Indigenous artefacts on a construction site for Sydney’s Light Rail is the largest ever find of Indigenous artefacts in Sydney. Indigenous heritage museum curator Matt Poll explains its significance and what we should do about it.

New South Wales Greens MP David Shoebridge says he requested access to the site on Tuesday on behalf of the traditional owners in their effort to protect the remaining artefacts.

However, a spokesperson for NSW Transport told 'The Point' that Mr Shoebridge was made aware before the traditional owners arrived that the visit could "not be accommodated as staff were not available to perform safety inductions".

The spokesperson adds NSW Transport did not request the police to attend the site on Thursday.

The NSW Police Service told 'The Point' that no officers were called to the scene.

ARTEFACT SITE Elders denied access to artefact site a 'delaying tactic', says heritage expert A stoush over the site where thousands of Aboriginal artefacts were discovered during the construction of the multibillion dollar Sydney light rail continues.