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Kawatiri, Westport - Day 4 Cleaning and mapping

21 February 2008

Objectives for today were to clean and map the top of Layer 2 in the northern excavation areas, and to continue removal of Layer 1 in the southern areas.

Slightly more progress has been made in the northern excavation areas due to the nature of the soil. Layer 1 was completely removed today in two of the three squares, with Layer 2 becoming apparent by differences in soil colour and content.

Left: Recording and mapping the top of Layer 2 Right: Spit removed revealing Layer 2 in one of the northern excavation areas. Photo: Otago University

These two excavation areas were mapped using a detailed grid system to record the material on the surface of Layer 2. A well-defined cobble layer within the soil matrix of Layer 2 has been found.

In the third excavation area a dense collection of argillite adze fragments was found during the final removal of Layer 1. Layer 2 is now being removed in the northern excavation areas in thin spits to allow the cultural material to be recorded accurately.

Excavating high flake concentration in northern area. Photo: Otago University

In one of the northern excavation areas, a possible flaking floor has been unearthed. This is evident by the high concentration of flakes within a single test pit at the bottom of Layer 1 and the top of Layer 2, with several hundred found within a 50 mm by 50 mm area. Several pieces of bird bone were recovered in one excavation area including some moa bone.

The southern excavation areas are proceeding at a slower pace due to the complex nature of the soil matrix. A number of artefacts have been found during the removal of Layer 1, including several stone minnow lures, fragments of nephrite, argillite and obsidian, adze fragments and a stone chisel.

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