threats to cultural values

[ threats to natural values ] [ threats to the tarkine ]

The current level of protection of the 244 Aboriginal archaeological sites in the Tarkine is poor. There are a number of threats to their integrity, including cattle grazing, unregulated vehicle use, vandalism and theft, and road building.

As a consequence of coastal shacks being established in the area, roads have been constructed to link settlements and houses. This has occurred in a largely ad-hoc manner, often in complete ignorance of nearby archaeological sites. A large network of unofficial off-road vehicle (ORV) tracks has been established through a number of middens, while others are quickly eroded - trampled by the heavy hooves of a few herds of cattle grazing the coastal grasslands adjacent to the dunes. As recently as 1998 an Aboriginal site at Sundown Point was vandalised one of a few petroglyphs were chiselled away from its rock base and stolen.

Hiscock (2000) recommends that in order to conserve the Aboriginal heritage of the area, the current management plan for the region needs to incorporate the following actions:

• A program of specialist survey, recording and evaluation, be undertaken in order to document the "full range of archaeological phenomena", and to assess "the information content and threats to each archaeological site recorded.
• Threat evaluations specific to each site form the basis of protection plans, and that archaeological material be physically protected, or threats to it be excluded.
• Conservation measures aimed specifically at known petroglyphs and doughnut middens. These should be given immediate protection due to their scientific and cultural importance.

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