5. Areas of Archaeological Potential & Sensitivity

1. Previously Recorded Aboriginal Sites and Places
2. Previous Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Studies
3. Aboriginal Site Prediction Model and Implications for this Investigation
4. Relocation of Previously Recorded Sites
5. Areas of Archaeologically Potential/Sensitivity
6. Discussion - Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
7. Aboriginal Cultural Significance
   
   

Areas designated as archaeologically sensitive are those evaluated as containing potential for archaeological sites. These are usually areas that have poor ground surface visibility, so it is possible surface and/or sub-surface deposits may exist but are currently obscured by factors such as thick vegetation or sediment deposits. Archaeologically sensitive areas can also be areas that have not been surveyed, for example when a desktop study indicates sites may occur on certain landforms or near creeklines these potentially sensitive areas can be identified. Areas may be deemed as being of low, medium or high archaeological sensitivity.

On the basis of the desktop study and the high level of disturbance to the majority of the study area through urban development, a limited number of areas within the City of Monash are identified as having low potential archaeological sensitivity for Aboriginal sites. Only the extreme east of the study area along Dandenong Creek and a section of High Street Road have been previously surveyed for archaeological sites. While both sites recorded in the study area were inspected during the present study, an archaeological survey was outside the scope of the project brief. Therefore, this identification of potentially sensitive areas remains limited and is subject to testing during future archaeological surveys within the City of Monash.

Prior to the urbanisation of the City of Monash, many areas existed that would have contained many camp sites, trees with bark removed, ceremonial places, hunting and gathering grounds and wood and stone workshop sites. The landforms within the City of Monash include hills, valleys and floodplains dissected by several creeks and streams. The heath, forest and riparian vegetation within Monash would have provided a diversity of animals and plants for the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung people's subsistence. But in the present context, areas that would have provided the best vantage points to situate camps on and areas near fresh running water are the places chosen for residential and recreational development.

The urbanisation of the environment over the past 50 years would have disturbed and destroyed any large campsites on the hills overlooking Dandenong Creek to the distant ranges or those situated near the other creeks in the area (such as Black's Flat). These sites may have been of moderate or high archaeological significance and most certainly would have been of great cultural significance to the descendents of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung. In general, the remaining areas in the City of Monash that are likely to contain Aboriginal archaeological sites have also been subject to a moderate degree of disturbance. For example, the most intact natural areas in the City of Monash exist along the Dandenong Creek area within the floodplain and even here sporting ovals, walking tracks, bicycle paths and artificial wetlands have been built.

Directly to the west of Dandenong Creek, housing development and footpaths are constructed down to the lowest terracing above the floodplain. But even with the intense urbanisation of the study area, the potential remains for Aboriginal archaeological sites to exist along the less disturbed sections of land adjacent to creeks, such as Dandenong, Damper, Scotchmans and Gardiners creeks and Valley Reserve. Other reserves, except former tips (see Resources Available to the Aboriginal People), in the study area may also contain a low potential for sites, but without conducting a survey this remains unknown. There is also a low potential for additional scarred trees to be identified on mature gums (pre settlement).

Potentially sensitive areas that require survey within the study area are summarized in the table below.

Given the land use history for each of these areas is similar, there is no specific priority for these areas in relation to subsequent survey.