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Kawatiri, Westport - Day 8

26 February 2008

All excavation teams are working close to the interface between Layer 2 and Layer 3. Near the base of the cultural layer (Layer 2) the artefacts have become sparse but features, such as ovens, post holes and so on, are starting to appear more defined.

Half section of a possible hearth feature Photos: Otago University

Several large and interesting features have been found in the northern excavation area, which suggest a range of activities. This contrasts with the fire features (cooking fires and earth ovens) in the southern excavation areas.

The interface between Layers 2 and 3 in the southern excavation areas has been difficult to define and maintain due to the sandy soil matrix. Features can become covered by windblown sand and have a tendency to dry out in the hot weather which makes them difficult to see. The northern excavations are not facing this issue due to the more compact soil matrix of Layer 3.

We are planning to half section the features over the next few days. This involves carefully excavating one half of a feature, leaving the other half intact with a clean vertical section which is then drawn and described.

Excavation area of Layer 2. Note that each feature is identified by a small flag containing the feature number. Photo: Otago University

A 2 x 2 m area has been opened up about 20 m south of the southern excavation area. This has revealed a large patch of midden which comprises burnt and fragmented shell (mostly mussel but some cockle), as well as bone fragments of dog and moa. A large fragment of bone possibly from a sea mammal was carefully excavated and packed in sand at the end of the day.

Uncovered bone possibly belonging to a sea mammal. Photo: Otago University

An important addition to our field methodology this year is that we have based our choice of excavation areas partly on the results of a magnetic survey carried out last year at the site by Dr Hans Bader.

So far, the sampling strategies we have adopted based on the survey results have proved to be very satisfactory.

The northern areas were identified in the survey as having few burning features and we selected them for that reason, hoping that they might contain evidence of house floors and work areas. The excavation results confirm the survey data and indeed, it looks as if this part of the site will provide the type of information that we hoped for.

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