Chinese archaeological excavation in Auckland a first

New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information release
9 October 2007

The first ever archaeological excavation of an early Chinese site in the North Island is currently taking place at Carlaw Park in Auckland - site of the city's former premier Rugby League park.

And some of the historic Chinese treasures retrieved will be on display during a public open day on site this weekend (October 13-14) - including a 17th Century Chinese coin, possibly a family heirloom brought out by one of the settlers.

"The excavation is going extremely well - and has been handled with great care as befitting this important archaeological site," says Bev Parslow, Regional Archaeologist for the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

"We've worked closely with Dr Hans Bader of Geometria, who has led the archaeological work onsite, and we're now starting to piece together a picture of a thriving early Chinese market garden community here in the 1880s."

The excavation work is being carried out prior to further development on-site. Under the Historic Places Act, any place where there is evidence of human occupation before 1900 is an archaeological site, and requires an authority from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust for it to be modified before earthworks can begin.

The Archaeological Authority process has ensured that the remains of Auckland's earliest Chinese settlement will be retrieved, recorded and interpreted, providing new insights into this part of Auckland's history.

"Before any significant archaeological work began, a research strategy was undertaken by Geometria revealing - among other things - that a mortgage for the land was held by Chan Ah Chee in 1882. A number of archival sources were uncovered, strongly reinforcing our thinking that the site had high potential for yielding artefacts related to Chinese market garden activities, and the potential to reveal more about Auckland's early commercial industries, as the area was one of Auckland's earliest industrial centers," says Ms Parslow.

"In fact, Dr Bader and his team uncovered the brick foundations of Mr Ah Chee's house after only the first day or two of investigations lying intact just under the tarmac."

One of the particularly fascinating aspects of this site has been the different layers of history that have emerged, and now captured through the archaeological conditions of the authority process.

"In addition to the market garden activity, we have also been able to work with developers to protect the archaeological features that were initially recorded on the site, the remains of the Low and Motion Flour Mill - one of Auckland's earliest flour mills dating back to the 1840s, and located close to the Ah Chee house."

But it's the Chinese connection that makes the site unique.

"The finds to date have huge heritage significance as they show visible evidence of the settlement and occupation of the Chinese community in early colonial Auckland. We can also see that the community was prospering - even though Auckland was in the grip of a major economic depression at the time. In fact we know Mr Ah Chee later went on to own commercial property in Queen Street," she says.

The Chinese community have taken enormous interest in the site as it gives a voice to a community of people who were almost invisible in Auckland's early historic record.

According to Bev, past Chinese-related archaeological discoveries in Auckland have been relatively few, and quite sporadic, with these artefacts forming the first systematic excavation of Chinese material in the North Island.

"Most Chinese archaeological finds are associated with Otago gold mining. That makes this site all the more important - and it's tremendous that the Auckland Rugby League Board through their developers Willis and Bond, are keen to share these discoveries in a public open day this weekend."

The Historic Places Trust is committed to advocating for public and community education of archaeological sites of significance and will be on site to assist on the open day.

Don't miss the Archaeological Excavation Open Day at Carlaw Park, 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday (October 13,14). Admission free (no parking on site). Entrance from Carlaw Park Avenue Parnell Rise. Parking Available in area.

For more information

Bev Parslow
Regional Archaeologist
Ph (09) 307-0413, email bparslow@historic.org.nz