Archaeological Sites

Legal Protection of Archaeological Sites Management and Care of Archaeological Sites Archaeological Investigations Cook's Cove Dunedin corduroy track Kawatiri Omata Gisborne Pilot Project Archaeology Brochures Archaeological Guidelines Archaeological Reports Digital Library

^ Back to Day 10

Kawatiri, Westport - Day 12

3 March 2008

The task set for today's excavations was to expand existing excavation units to better understand spatial distributions of features around the site.

In the far southern area the excavation unit has been increased from its original 2 x 2 m square to a 4 x 4 m square. This has been done because of the high density of midden, which has not been found before at the site, and which provides valuable data about subsistence economics.

So far a collection of dog, moa, sea mammal, and fish bone, as well as shellfish has been excavated. A previous excavation in the area revealed an underground feature, which will be better defined through this area expansion.

The northern area is made up of four 5 x 5 m excavation units. The north-west unit contains a concentration of obsidian flakes (black triangles) and nephrite flakes (green circles). The large blue area lying in both the southern units marks the location of a dense patch of argillite flakes from adze making. The other grey features are ovens and postholes. Diagram: Otago University

One of the main aims of this year's excavation has been to look at the spatial distribution of features in the site. Spatial data has already been generated with the fluxgate gradiometer survey and the follow-up work has been promising.

In one of the northern excavation areas two separate concentrations of stone flakes were found. One collection consisted of nephrite (greenstone or pounamu) fragments, in close proximity to a nephrite adze and a number of adze fragments. In the same excavation area a large number of obsidian flakes were found, again in close proximity to each other. The flake floor, that was mentioned in an earlier report, consisted of at least a thousand argillite flakes. These distributions of material associated with stone tool making can provide valuable clues about activities taking place on the site.

The top left of this excavation area reveals a high concentration of cobbles which may suggest a type of cobble floor that is often found in Polynesian archaeological sites. Photo: Otago University

Spatial patterns can also appear in the form of feature clusters. In one excavation area a dense collection of stone cobbles has been found. This may indicate a hard floor possibly used in a dwelling.

These floors, which are commonly found in Polynesian archaeological sites, may be in reflection of the undertones of Polynesian culture on the New Zealand archaic period. What is striking about this feature is the lack of cultural material recovered in comparison to the surrounding excavation areas.

However, this feature has been uncovered in a slightly higher level to other features found so far and may be further defined in a lower level. The current excavations may reveal post holes in association with the hard cobble flooring which would suggest a residential dwelling.

^ Go to Day 13

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