The following information is taken from the Aboriginal Surface Scatters mini-poster. One of a set of 15 Aboriginal heritage mini-posters produced by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.
The mini-poster can be downloaded by clicking
the poster thumbnail 
Surface artifact scatters are the material remains of past Aboriginal people’s activities. Scatter sites usually contain stone artifacts, but other material such as charcoal, animal bone, shell and ochre may also be present. No two surface scatters are exactly the same.
Examples of artifacts commonly found in Victorian
surface scatters Surface scatters can be found wherever Aboriginal occupation has occurred in the past. Aboriginal campsites were most frequently located near a reliable source of fresh water, so surface scatters are often found near rivers or streams where erosion or disturbance has exposed an older land surface.
1,384 artifact scatters have been recorded in the region.
Do not disturb the site or remove any material. Check whether the site has the characteristics of an Aboriginal surface scatter. If it does, record its location and write a brief description of its condition. Note whether it is under threat of disturbance.
Surface scatters are the remains of past Aboriginal campsites and other activities. Aboriginal people produced and left the scatter material in the course of their daily life. Activities that produced surface scatters include:
Away from the camp, activities that produced surface scatters include:
Scatters may be the remains from a number of activities in a camp, or from just one activity away from the main camp site.
Large surface scatters with many types of artifacts indicate favoured camping
areas. These were often resource-rich areas such as swamps, lakes or riverine
environments. Aboriginal people returned to these locations repeatedly, stayed
for longer periods, and undertook a wider range of activities. A large scatter
may have many thousands of
artifacts and cover more than a hectare. The repeated use of an area may
have left a dense deposit that is many layers thick, or a huge scatter consisting
of artifacts from many overlapping occupations.
Smaller sites generally resulted from single, short occupations such as overnight camps and dinner camps. Some consist of debris at an activity area away from the main camp. Small scatters may cover only a few square metres, consist of only one layer and comprise only a few artifacts. They can be found anywhere, whereas larger scatters are rarer in resource-poor areas such as coastal plains, highlands and deserts.
Scatters of naturally occurring gravel, particularly quartz, may be mistaken
for Aboriginal surface
scatters. Gravel usually has rounded edges and originates in the immediate
area. Imported gravel,
particularly from roadwork or building construction, can also be mistaken
for surface scatters.
Imported gravel has sharp edges and a narrow size range, and it is usually
found around earthworks.
Surface scatters of artifacts are one of the most common types of Aboriginal
site. They provide important information about past Aboriginal people’s
settlement patterns and lifestyles. Some organic materials (such as charcoal,
bone and shell) found in scatters can be dated by radiocarbon dating. These
dates tell us when people were living in a
particular area. Artifacts in the surface scatters can show how Aboriginal
culture changed over time. The presence of stone from other areas can indicate
trade, exchange and contact between different groups that lived many
kilometres apart. Surface scatters are an important link for Aboriginal people
today with their culture and past.
Aboriginal surface scatters can be disturbed or destroyed by people or natural
processes such as wind
and water. Weathering and erosion can damage or disperse artifacts, as can
trampling by hard-hoofed animals and rabbit burrowing. Human activities such
as mining, road building, damming, clearing and construction can disturb and
destroy artifact sites. Aboriginal Affairs Victoria records the location,
dimensions and condition of Aboriginal scatters.
The aim is to have a permanent photographic and written record of this important
part of the heritage
of all Australians. Management works around Aboriginal surface scatters,
such as the eradication
of rabbits and erosion control, help preserve the sites for future generations.
All Aboriginal cultural places in Victoria are protected by law. Aboriginal artifacts are also protected. It is illegal to disturb or destroy an Aboriginal place. Artifacts should not be removed from sites.
In general, the presence of Aboriginal surface scatters on private land will not affect ownership, or stop existing land uses from continuing.
Please preserve Aboriginal surface scatters by conducting environmental, agricultural and other activities in a manner that does not impact on them. Such areas are likely to cover a very small area relative to the size of most properties and avoiding disturbance should therefore have little effect on productivity. The presence of such a place will greatly enhance the value of an appropriately implemented environmental project and is likely to be assist applicants seeking funds for environmental projects.
Please help to preserve Aboriginal cultural places by reporting their presence to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.