Archaeological Investigations: Jury and Autridge Farmsteads, Omata
Background
Archaeological investigation of two historic European farmstead sites
(NZAA site numbers P19/292 and P19/270) is being undertaken this summer
as the fieldwork component of PhD research by Janice Adamson at the University
of Auckland. The sites are located in Omata, New Plymouth.
The two sites chosen for excavation are part of a largely undocumented
archaeological resource of European farmstead sites that were destroyed
during conflict relating to the first Taranaki land war between March
1860 and March 1861. The potential for archaeology relating to these sites
was first identified by Dr Nigel Prickett, whose own PhD research was
on the military stockade at Omata.
The two sites to be investigated are currently in farm paddocks, with
no visible surface features, aside from an indentation relating to a well
on one site (P19/292), and the known location of the well on the other
(P19/270). The sites were located through a combination of overlaying
of historical maps, surface scatters of ceramics and glass, and geophysical
survey, using a fluxgate gradiometer.
These early farmstead sites have particular significance as they represent
some of the earliest European farming activities in the North Island.
In addition, it appears these sites were not rebuilt upon after the land
wars, meaning the opportunity is present to study the archaeological remains
of the specific individuals and families that occupied these farmsteads
for such a short period of time.
The archaeological investigations are being funded by the landowner,
Len Jury, and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. The landowner and
local iwi, Te Kotahitanga O Nga Mahanga A Tairi Society Incorporated,
have both given their consent for this project to proceed. An authority
to undertake these investigations has been granted by the NZHPT in accordance
with the requirements of the Historic Places Act 1993.
The excavations are being led by Janice Adamson, together with Hans-Dieter
Bader of Geometria Ltd, and equipment
has been provided by the University of Auckland, Anthropology Department.
We are grateful to Jufferman Surveying Ltd which is providing internet
access during the excavations is being provided by .
Aims of the Research
The focus of the research is to understand the everyday lives of the
families that occupied these farmsteads, particularly investigating how
motivations and values of the settlers may have been expressed through
the material culture and landscape of the family farm.
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Undertaking
the geophysical survey at the location of the Jury homestead. December
2006.
Photo: Janice Adamson
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Archaeology of the historic period uses a combination of methods, joining
documentary sources, including pictures, diaries, journals and land records,
together with the archaeological record.
These excavations in Omata are expected to uncover discarded artefacts
such as broken ceramics and glass, metal, personal items such as buttons
and slate pencils, as well as archaeological features that relate to buildings
and structures, such as post-holes, old fence lines, rubbish pits, and
wells.
These features and artefacts can lead to understanding such things as
whether the occupants may have been wealthy, what kinds of food and drink
they were consuming, what kinds of technology they were using on the farm,
and also, whether they could read and write, as many of the settlers at
this time could not.
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Undertaking
the geophysical survey at the location of the Jury homestead. December
2006.
Image: Hans-Dieter Bader, Geometria
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Site P19/270: The Autridges
This site will be excavated in February 2008. This homestead site was
occupied by Charles Autridge, who arrived with his wife Frances and son
John on the second ship that sailed from Plymouth, the Amelia Thompson,
and arrived in New Plymouth on 3 September 1841 (Rutherford and Skinner
1940). The Taranaki Relief Fund Commissions show that Charles Autridge's
house was also burned, as well as a dairy and stables, and the family
lost their furniture and farming implements (Archives New Zealand IA132/9).
The geophysical survey also shows potential archaeological features that
will be excavated.
Site P19/292: The Jurys
This site will be excavated in December 2007. The site belonged to Mrs
Elizabeth Jury, who sailed on the first ship of the Plymouth Company from
Plymouth, England, the William Bryan, and arrived in New Plymouth
on 31 March 1841 with her husband Jesse, and 6 children (Rutherford and
Skinner 1940).
We already know from researching the Taranaki Relief Fund Commissions
held at the National Archives in Wellington, that Mrs Jury's house was
made from rimu, (Archives NZ IA132/7) and was nearly completely burned
by Maori in 1860, with the remaining parts of the house and outbuildings
used to build temporary cookhouses at the Waireka Redoubt (Archives New
Zealand IA132/28). The geophysical survey has shown the potential for
archaeological features remaining that relate to the house and outbuildings,
and it is these features that will be explored during this excavation.
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