1. Previously Recorded Aboriginal Sites & Places
- Previously Recorded Aboriginal Sites and Places
- Previous Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Studies
- Aboriginal Site Prediction Model and Implications for this Investigation
- Relocation of Previously Recorded Sites
- Areas of Archaeologically Potential/Sensitivity
- Discussion - Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
- Aboriginal Cultural Significance
There have been two Aboriginal archaeological sites previously recorded within the study area - both are scarred trees (AAV 7922/353 and 7922/614).
The nearest Aboriginal sites of National significance that are listed on the Register of the National Estate (RNE) are the Narre Narre Warren Protectorate Station (RNE File No 2/18/292/0009; AHPP No 5.1-1) and 'Grave of Bungeleen, (RNE File No 2/18/292/0080; AHPP No 9.1-6), situated adjacent to the southeast corner of the present study area. These sites are both listed on Aboriginal Affairs Victoria's Aboriginal Historic Places Project (AHPP), as is Corhanwarrabul Camp No. 1 (AHPP 1.3-12).
Within the Dandenong Creek region there have been 29 previously recorded Aboriginal archaeological sites, and 18 Aboriginal Post-Contact sites. The Aboriginal archaeological sites comprise scarred trees (50%), isolated artefact occurrences (23%), surface scatters of stone artefacts (16%), exposure of cultural material in a bank (3%), rock arrangement (3%) and one 'other site' - Dandenong Police Paddocks (1%) (see Glossary).
The previously recorded Post-Contact sites range from gravesites, Corroboree grounds, Contact campsites, Contact routes of movement (pathways) and the Westernport Aboriginal Protectorate Station (Police Paddocks). Discussion of Aboriginal sites in this section is concentrated around the known and potential evidence adjacent to Dandenong Creek where the majority of studies have been conducted. The study area is west of Dandenong Creek and has been developed for residential purposes, and the majority of the area contains very low potential for Aboriginal archaeological sites of any kind.
Though there are many previously recorded Aboriginal archaeological sites in the Dandenong region, only 11 of these sites have been identified within 200m of Dandenong Creek. The remainder of the previously recorded sites are mostly scarred tree sites on the plains south of Dandenong. Sites next to Dandenong Creek are relevant as they form the data from which a site distribution model can be generated for the western edge of the present study area.
All previously recorded sites along Dandenong Creek are scarred trees, with lithic evidence limited to the low foothills of the Dandenong Valley. The stone artefacts identified in these sites have been manufactured from quartzite, silcrete and quartz. These artefacts are mostly flakes, waste flakes and a core (see Glossary).
Of the 9 previously recorded scarred trees, 6 have been identified as being of probable Aboriginal origin (AAV 7922/353, 7922/95, 7922/245, 7922/248 and 7922/250). The remaining scarred trees are considered to be possibly natural. Therefore, based on rarity alone, any lithic site identified close to the creek within a subsequent survey would be considered of moderate to high archaeological significance.