Pit
complex in Area D (see site map).
Photo: Janice Adamson, University of Auckland
There are only three days left for the excavation. We have extended Area
B towards the east and joined it with Area C. Now Area B and extension
of B covering Mrs Jury's house includes the fire place in the back wall
of the house.
Part
of the gunfighter trench with a palisade line to the right and pistholes
of Mrs Jury's house on the left.
Photo: Janice Adamson, University of Auckland
The extension also clarified the extent and layout of the gun fighter
position in the area of the house, though the connection between this
position and the hill of Kaipopo Pa is unexcavated and will stay this
way.
A number of the postholes of Mrs Jury's house were cut by elements of
the gun fighter position and the house is therefore of an earlier date
than the gun fighter trenches.
We excavated the well as far as it is possible but we are possibly still
far away from the bottom. Only a small amount of finds (ceramic, bottle
glass, clay pipe bowls) came from the well.
Fireplace
at Mrs Jury's house.
Photo: Janice Adamson, University of Auckland
The features in Area A seem to indicate a small building with a hard
packed floor, indicative of a cow shed or similar. Just outside the modern
fenceline along the road cut a number of large postholes could indicate
the position of the original post and rail fence of the property.
Further storage pits were excavated in Area E, where it became clear
that a trench of the gun fighter position cuts through the fill of the
storage pits and the gun fighter trenches are therefore of a later date
than the storage pits.
Andy
Dodd inside a "bunker".
Photo: Janice Adamson, University of Auckland
Andy Dodd from DoC Auckland gave as a guided tour around Koru Pa close
to Oakura - a fantastic site, which everyone enjoyed. We also have help
from Dr. Nigel Prickett of the Auckland Museum, an expert in Land War
sites.
The last days will be spent to fully excavate the remains of the house,
the shed in Area A and portions of the gun fighter position.
"Hello, everyone. I have a MA in Anthropology from the University
of Otago. I volunteered for the Mrs Jury excavation because I had recently
returned to New Zealand from overseas and wished to update my knowledge
and experience of New Zealand archaeology.
The Mrs Jury's excavation is extremely interesting and is giving
me a lot of practical and valuable experience. This is my first time to
excavate in the North Island and I am loving it. On a final note I want
to thank Janice and Hans for giving me this exciting opportunity."
Marty (BA PgDip Teaching)
"I'm a Geography teacher from Auckland. I have
a major in Anthropology from University of Auckland. I have been looking
forward to the opportunity to excavate in New Zealand after working overseas.
Working with Janice and Hans has been a fantastic learning experience
and I can't thank them enough. Rock on, Taranaki!"
