2. Previous Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Studies
- 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 8 Aboriginal cultural heritage investigations within or near the study area. All have included land along or adjacent to Dandenong Creek (Snoek 1987; Vines 1997, Rhodes 1990 and 1993; Murphy 1999 and 2000; Long and Gilfedder 1997; Barber and Williams 1995). Four of these studies (Rhodes 1990, 1993, Vines 1997 and Murphy 2000) have undertaken site survey within the present study area along Dandenong Creek. Murphy's (2000) study included a section of High Street Road away from the creek. Of these studies, only the Rhodes (1993) survey identified the Aboriginal site (AAV 7922/353) within the present area. A second Aboriginal site (AAV 7922/614) was recorded by Rochelle Johnson of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria as an Action File (98/47) after AAV were informed by Jeff McAlpine (City of Monash) of its presence in Valley Reserve.
The Aboriginal archaeology of the area has been considered in detail within several previous studies (Snoek 1987; Rhodes 1989, 1990, 1993; Fels 1990a, 1990b; Murphy 1999, 2000; Long and Gilfedder 1997). Each of these studies has been on a small to medium scale, with the majority dealing with the Dandenong (Narre Narre Warren) Police Paddocks in terms of its history (Fels 1990a, 1990b), archaeological remains (Rhodes 1989) and implementation of management plans (Long and Gilfedder 1997). The remaining studies have been concerned with Aboriginal cultural heritage of Dandenong and Patterson creeks, the proposed Scoresby Freeway, High Street Road duplication and the Dandenong Valley Metropolitan Park (Snoek 1987; Murphy 1999, 2000; Vines 1997; Rhodes 1990, 1993).
Less than 1% of the study area has been subject to previous survey coverage. This previous survey coverage has occurred almost exclusively in the Dandenong Creek Valley. The following provides a brief summary of each of these relevant studies and is synthesised in the following section to generate a site prediction model for Aboriginal archaeological sites in the present study area. But it should be noted that a lack of previous surveys west of the Dandenong Creek Valley (that is, over 90% of the study area) provides some limitations to the site prediction model.
In 1987, Snoek conducted an archaeological site survey of the Dandenong Creek Catchment and Police Paddocks for the purpose of defining the extent to which potential archaeological resources would be impacted by the then-proposed Metropolitan Park along the confines of Dandenong Creek. As part of this investigation, some sections of the present study area on the west side of Dandenong Creek were surveyed. During this investigation, 6 Aboriginal archaeological sites were located, comprising three isolated artefact occurrences and three scarred tree sites. Only one of these sites, a scarred tree, was identified close to Dandenong Creek. During Snoek's site survey very poor levels of ground surface visibility were encountered, especially along the creek margin, due to thick vegetation, silcrete erosion and sedimentation.
Snoek considered these conditions affected the results of his study as they obscured sites. Due to the lack of sites identified during his study, Snoek based areas of archaeological potential on ethnographic information (Bunce 1859), which indicates that Dandenong Creek was often used as a camp site location as well as an area that provided abundant resources for pre-Contact and Contact Aboriginal groups. Snoek comments, 'It is therefore likely that Aboriginal campsites will be found once clearing of the vegetation takes place when walking trails and facilities are constructed' (Snoek 1987: 24).
Rhodes (1989) conducted the first intensive archaeological site survey of a section of the Native Police Headquarters to document the archaeological resources and make appropriate management recommendations. Apart from conducting a detailed examination of the location where the Native Police residences were, Rhodes also inspected the banks of Dandenong Creek. During this investigation, Rhodes located 27 archaeological features, only 1 of which was an Aboriginal site (AAV 7922/82). This surface scatter of stone artefacts was identified on the ridgeline overlooking the Dandenong Creek and floodplain.
This small scatter site comprised mostly waste flakes and two formal tools, manufactured from 'chert, silcrete and fine-grained quartz' (Rhodes 1989: Appendix 2). Rhodes did not find any evidence of Aboriginal occupation along the creek margins or floodplain area. But the ground surface visibility encountered along the creek margins by Rhodes during this study was very low. He considered that further Aboriginal archaeological sites were likely to be located on the ridgeline and forested areas to the north and east, rather than within the floodplain (Rhodes 1989: 30). Based on the results of this investigation, Rhodes assessed the Dandenong Creek banks and floodplain area to have a low potential for Aboriginal archaeological sites.
In 1990, Rhodes conducted an Aboriginal archaeological site survey of Dandenong Creek and Patterson River as part of a concept plan for open space development along Dandenong Creek. Rhodes included a survey of part of the present study area (Dandenong Creek and valley) during this investigation. During this study, 8 archaeological sites were recorded, comprising 7 scarred trees and 1 surface scatter of stone artefacts.
Apart from the surface scatter that was identified on a ridge in the Police Paddocks, all the remaining scarred tree sites were identified near Dandenong Creek, upstream of Ferntree Gully Road. The contents of this site included a formal tool (scraper) and two small flakes, all of which were manufactured from silcrete. No Aboriginal archaeological sites were identified within the present study area. During the survey of Dandenong Creek between Burwood Highway and Waverley Road, Rhodes encountered poor ground surface visibility due to dense vegetation growth. Good visibility was limited to tracks, and occasional ploughed fields in this area. The poor ground surface visibility encountered by Rhodes throughout the study area led him to consider the potential detection of Aboriginal surface lithic sites was severely limited, but did not affect the likelihood of detecting scarred tree sites.
Rhodes considered the paucity of the Aboriginal archaeological record in the area prohibits any effective site prediction model to be constructed (1990: 33). But, based on the number of recorded scarred trees in these landforms, he did suggest the Dandenong Creek Valley and Bruce's Creek served as corridors of movement up Mount Dandenong. Rhodes considered there exists a localised exploitation pattern applicable to the Police Paddocks area, 'The scarred trees of probable Aboriginal origin recorded by this survey and Snoek's 1987 survey indicate exploitation of wetlands along Dandenong Creek by Aboriginal people. Lithic scatters located during this and other surveys occur only on hills above the floodplain at Police Paddocks. This does not provide definite evidence of former wetland exploitation from the higher ground except as a localised pattern at Police Paddocks' (1990: 33). Rhodes considered that the Dandenong Creek floodplain and creek banks of the present study area to be of low archaeological potential for Aboriginal sites.
In 1993, Rhodes conducted an archaeological site survey of the Dandenong Valley Metropolitan Park. An isolated artefact occurrence situated on hill and scarred trees within the floodplain (AAV 7922/352 and 7922/353 respectively) was located during the site survey. The scarred tree, AAV 7922/353, is located in the present study area on the Dandenong Creek floodplain, north of Drummies Bridge Reserve. During the site survey of this project, the banks of Dandenong Creek within the present study area were examined for the presence of Aboriginal archaeological sites. During this time, no sites were identified within the present study area because there was no ground surface visibility and flooding of parts of the valley.
Rhodes considered these factors reduced identification of surface archaeological sites within the floodplain areas. Rhodes considered the focus of Aboriginal occupation and movement near wetland areas may have been along low hills adjacent to Dandenong Creek (Rhodes 1990: 12, 1993: 9), as exploitation would have been easier based from higher and drier land. Based on the results of this study, Rhodes considered the banks of Dandenong Creek were of low archaeological potential for surface lithic scatters, but of high potential for Aboriginal scarred tree sites in areas where original native vegetation exist. Areas of high archaeological sensitivity for surface lithic scatters are on adjacent hills and ridgelines overlooking the Dandenong Creek and floodplain. Rhodes (1993: 29-30) identified several areas in and near the present study area that were most likely to still contain surface artefact scatters. These are south of High Street Road on hills and alluvial terraces, the prominent ridge over the floodplain at Bushy Park, and the hills adjacent to Dandenong and Corhanwarrabul creeks near Wellington Road.
In 1995 Barber and Williams conducted a survey for an Optic Fibre Cable Route from Dandenong to the NSW/Vic border that included a section of the present study area along Police Road from the Monash Freeway to Dandenong Creek. No issues were identified in this area, however their study was limited to a windscreen, or vehicular inspection (Barber and Williams 1995:1,41).
In a cultural heritage assessment of the Scoresby Transport Corridor, Vines (1997) investigated much of the length of the Dandenong Creek Valley for the presence of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites. Despite the relatively large area surveyed, Vines located only two isolated artefacts but considers this result to be directly related to low ground surface visibility, high level of disturbance from urban development, and possibly burial by flood sediments (1997: 26).
Based on the results of the historical data and site survey, Vines identified a number of areas as containing potential for Aboriginal cultural heritage sites. These areas are: within 100m of the Dandenong Creek which has potential for isolated artefact, stone artefacts scatters, and to a lesser extent scarred trees and stratified deposits and burials; on undisturbed high ground and valley slopes is a moderate potential for stone artefact scatters and isolated artefacts. Most significant to the present study area, is that Vines (1997: 7, 42-43) identified the section of the bypass that crosses Dandenong Creek near Wellington Road at Rowville as an area of sensitivity for Aboriginal archaeological sites. This sensitive area is also in the vicinity of Clow's former homestead (outside present study area) and could therefore have contained post-Contact Aboriginal archaeological sites.
In a small-scale investigation of a one kilometre length of Dandenong Creek south of the present study area between Stud and Police Roads Murphy (1999) found no significant evidence for any pre-Contact Aboriginal occupation or utilisation. This study involved a comprehensive site survey and archaeological monitoring of all earthworks. Prior to conducting the survey of this study area Murphy formulated an Aboriginal site distribution model for the banks of Dandenong Creek (1999: 17).
This model suggested that the site types considered most likely for this landform were scarred trees with a low likelihood that undisturbed lithic sites would occur. Murphy concluded that the results of this investigation indicated that the banks of Dandenong Creek within this study area are comprised of deposits that have largely been both eroded and accumulated since European settlement. The effect of hydrological changes and European land use had removed much of the archaeological evidence for Aboriginal occupation of the creek bank in this area. Previous archaeological investigations had assessed the banks of Dandenong Creek as having low potential for intact lithic sites, and the results of Murphy's study were considered to support the general model for the archaeological sensitivity of the creek bank.
Murphy (2000) conducted a cultural heritage assessment for the High Street Road Duplication part of which was within the present study area along High Street Road to Dandenong Creek. During the survey no Aboriginal cultural heritage sites were recorded and the results conformed to the low level of potential predicted for the study area (Murphy 2000: 21). While Murphy did not identify any new areas of sensitivity, she noted the following for her study area. Scarred trees particularly mature Manna Gum and River Red gums were the most likely site type to occur, with lower potential to locate lithic sites. The Dandenong Creek and floodplain contained low archaeological sensitivity for lithic sites and due to its land use history any lithic sites would not be in situ. Lithic sites were most likely to occur on low hills adjacent to the Dandenong Creek Valley (2000: 20).
The previous regional and localised studies have located a limited range of Aboriginal archaeological sites within the Dandenong Creek valley. These are dominated by scarred trees, and to a lesser extent, isolated stone artefact occurrences and surface scatters of stone artefacts. No burial sites have been previously recorded within creek banks of any of the waterways east of Melbourne, and it is therefore unlikely that this site type will exist within the present study area. There have been no sites near the study area that have provided dates for occupation. As the majority of sites are located on the present ground surface, they will most likely date to the last 5,000 years (recent) and more probably the last 1,000 years. Any scarred tree site that may exist within the study area will most likely date to the past 500 years, i.e. the life span of some gum trees.