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Kawatiri, Westport - Day 1 Preparations

18 February 2008

The first day of an archaeological investigation is a day of planning and preparation.

The first task on any prehistoric archaeological site in New Zealand is to make sure that the team are aware of all the Maori protocols that apply when working on a prehistoric Maori site. This is done through consultation with tangata whenua. In previous years, representatives of Ngati Waewae have carried out karakia (prayers) on the site to lift the tapu prior to excavation.

Richard Walter (one of two site directors) using total station survey equipment to map the site. Photo: Otago University

Work commenced on the site with the the setup of tents to store equipment, such as the surveying and excavation tools, and to serve as a site office.

Once this was done, the next task was to use a robotic total station to locate the grid used in the previous excavations, to make it possible to decide where to place the new excavation areas. The grid was tentatively established using the total station and then two small test pits were dug to locate iron datum pegs which had been sunk into the ground in previous years. The pegs were found to be exactly where they were predicted to be by the total station which confirmed that the old grid had been accurately identified.

Using a hand held remote control and a prism which connects with the total station two 4 m x 4 m excavation areas were laid out using string lines. This equipment allows millimetre accuracy, which is useful for precise survey on previously excavated sites.

Five excavation areas were turfed and levelled Photo: Otago University

After these excavation areas had been defined on the ground they were turfed. Turfing is the process in which the turf and topsoil is removed from the excavation area. This soil is cut to a depth of 30 - 50 mm and then lifted and placed in turf walls, which allows the archaeologists to replace the soil quickly and easily at the completion of the excavation.

Removing the turf is the first step of excavation and has to be done carefully so as not to cut too deep and disturb any cultural material lying below. This can result in a somewhat uneven surface to the excavation area, often with remnant roots and other organic material exposed on the surface. The area is then levelled and cleaned up using hand tools to provide a level plane for further excavation.

During this levelling process several artefacts were found in Layer 1 which lay above the main cultural layer (Layer 2). These were recorded in-situ and bagged. Three other excavation areas, located north of the first two, were also turfed and levelled, leaving the site with a total of five workable areas.

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GLOSSARY   Archaeological terminology Like any profession, archaeology comes with its own "language". This glossary helps with less familiar terms, particularly those used on this site. >> Read more

For questions about the Kawatiri excavation, contact archaeology@historic.org.nz