Team poised to unearth archaeological secrets
New Zealand Historic
Places Trust Information release
in association with the University of Otago
6 November 2007
A team of experts will begin excavating a
rare archaeological site - which is being steadily eroded by the sea - north of
Gisborne this week. The excavation in Cook's Cove is funded by the New Zealand
Historic Places Trust, the University of Otago and the Historic Places Trust's
Gisborne-Tairawhiti Branch Committee. It will focus on a site that could be up
to 700 years old. Historic Places Trust's Senior Archaeologist, Dr Rick
McGovern-Wilson say this is an early site which he thinks dates back to the 14th
or 15th Century AD, based on the types of artefacts and midden material exposed
along the edge. "Given the problem with sea erosion - and the rareness
of the site - we decided that a rescue excavation was needed to retrieve valuable
information before the site is completely destroyed. And, by the looks of things,
that may not be far off," he says. Both the landowner, Hauiti Incorporation,
and local iwi Te Aitanga a Hauiti are supporting the excavations and an authority
to undertake the investigations has been granted by the Historic Places Trust,
in accordance with the requirements of the Historic Places Act 1993. "We
have some very clear objectives with this excavation, including the retrieval
of midden (prehistoric food remains), material culture and radiocarbon samples,"
says Dr McGovern-Wilson. "The midden will be used to reconstruct subsistence
activities and some environmental information, while the material culture will
assist in defining site function and relationships with other early New Zealand
sites. The radiocarbon samples will provide information on the exact age of the
site." Regular video updates of the excavation will be posted on the
Historic Places Trust website (www.historic.org.nz) as the excavation proceeds.
Excavation Co-Director Associate Professor Richard Walter of Otago University
says this is an exciting development. "There is tremendous interest
in New Zealand archaeology and this will be an opportunity to provide what is
effectively a ringside seat for people keen to follow our progress," says
Professor Walter. Although it's never clear what excavations like this
might uncover, the team of archaeologists is confident that information from the
site will increase the knowledge of Maori settlement and life in early Aotearoa.
"We'll be attempting to expose large enough areas to identify features
such as house floors and oven or cooking areas," says Professor Walter. "We're
not exactly sure what we'll find - but then, that's the nature of archaeology."
Follow the
Cook's Cove excavation - log on to www.historic.org.nz and follow the links.
For more information:Primary contact: Associate Professor Richard
Walter, Otago University, 021 473 880
Alternative contacts: Dr Rick McGovern-Wilson,
NZ Historic Places Trust, 021 250 1881
Anne McGuire, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, 027
240 4493 | 
