Summer 2023
In mid-January Dr Andy Brown, Hinemaia Dewes and Josie Hagan undertook archaeological monitoring of earthworks for the Waipāoā River flood protection project in Gisborne.
This included a small excavation within the extent of the Manutuke pā site Y18/304, under authority No. 2022/297. During topsoil removal for stopbank works, the team identified a large, infilled ditch running through the pā, situated just outside a bank that rises to the main high platform of the pā. The ditch was approximately 2 metres deep and had no visible surface expression. It appears to have been deliberately in-filled as the upper layers of ditch fill were rapidly accumulated. The portion of the ditch that is within the project area has been recorded and will be capped by the flood protection works, so it remains as an intact subsurface feature.
In the last week of January Hinemaia and Josie made another trip round the East Coast, this time for a section 45 briefing with contractors and kaitiaki working to repair the East Cape Road dropouts near Te Araroa.
Later that week, Hinemaia and Josie had a good day out in the hills, completing a survey of a property in Kutarere, near Ōpōtiki prior to subdivision. January also saw the end of Hinemaia’ s Tāuratanga (studentship) with the InSitu whānau, and after a 'see-you-soon-party' we've sent her south for field school with Otago University.
In early February Andy and Josie began archaeological monitoring at Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park, as work got underway on the new walkway access route for the park.
The monitoring work identified three infilled pits, a section of defensive ditch relating to an adjacent pā and three small fire scoops within the bed of the existing bulldozed track that the walkway will be formed on. The features have been capped with clean fill and will remain intact under the walkway.
Cyclone Gabrielle and her aftereffects has put a hold on most of InSitu’s fieldwork for the remainder of the month. Our thoughts are with the impacted communities, particularly those in Te Tairāwhiti who are dealing with their sixth significant weather event this year.