Masonic Tavern Redevelopment
Projects
Excavation
Helena Bay Archaeological Programme
Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve
Ruakaka Sewerage Reticulation Project
Client
Redback Develop Ltd.
Location
Devonport, Auckland
New Zealand
Output
Archaeological Assessment, Excavation, Buildings Archaeology
We have recently completed Stage 1 of a three-stage project investigating the archaeology of the Masonic Tavern in Devonport, Auckland. Stage 1 focused on the in-ground archaeology in the car park, where-as Stages 2 and 3 will focus on the archaeology of two extant buildings; the main tavern building and a smaller building annexed to this known as the “Boarding House” with some in-ground investigation associated with these structures. Constructed in 1864, the tavern is located on the Devonport foreshore and is undergoing substantial redevelopment including the construction of apartments on the site and redevelopment of the tavern building itself, which is being changed to a mixed-use apartment and café set up. These works also include the relocation of one building and restoration of the tavern facade to its original 19th century configuration. Excavations at the Masonic Tavern have revealed a rice tapestry of history covering both European and Maori occupation at the site.
Excavations underway at the Masonic Tavern, 2013
Excavating the remains of an 1880s cottage
Stone-lined fire pit
Stone-lined fire pit
Bone fish hook
Ceramic dolls head
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Helena Bay Archaeological Programme
Client
Northland Coastal Developments Ltd.
Location
Northland, New Zealand
Output
Archaeological Assessment,
Survey and Excavation
The Helena Bay Archaeological Programme consisted of a wide body of archaeological work to support the development of a large private residence and improvements to the existing farm operation. This included a full resurvey and detailed GIS mapping of the entire property and identification of known and new archaeological sites, which led to recommendations for limiting impacts on the archaeological landscape. Archaeological mitigation included monitoring of earthworks and excavation of archaeological features identified during the construction of the main and ancillary buildings.
Google Earth view of the Helena Bay Farm
Archaeological Landscape Survey
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Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve
Client
Auckland Council
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Ouput
Archaeological Assessment,
Survey and Excavation
The archaeological investigation of an area of the Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve was undertaken in association with the University of Otago as mitigation for a proposed visitor centre. The reserve is a 100 hectare remnant of the volcanic landscape which once covered more than 8000 hectares between the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours, The reserve contains a record of at least 800 years of occupation including prehistoric Maori settlements marked by shell midden heaps, stone gardening mounds and plot boundaries, kumara storage pits and earthen terraces carved into the hillsides; 19th century European stone walls and orchards, an early bach community, and quarries which supplied scoria for the growth of Auckland in the 20th century.
Quarrying of the Otautaua volcanic cone
Excavations underway at Otuataua
Excavations underway at Otuataua
Excavations underway at Otuataua
Excavations underway at Otuataua
Excavations underway at Otuataua
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Ruakaka Sewerage Reticulation Project
Client
Fulton Hogan
Location
Ruakaka, New Zealand
Ouput
Archaeological Assessment,
Survey and Excavation
The Ruakaka Sewerage Reticulation Project required assessment, monitoring and limited excavation of archaeological deposits during the installation of sewage pumps and connections from residential properties. The project includes new wastewater treatment and discharge/disposal facilities to handle the significant increase in wastewater flows and loads that will result from large increases in residential, business and industrial development in Ruakaka. The sewerage system will pump wastewater from over 450 individual properties to the Ruakaka Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Google Earth image of Ruakaka
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Pohokura Gas Production Station
Client
Shell Todd Oil Services
Location
Taranaki, New Zealand
Ouput
Survey and Excavation
The development of the Pohokura Gas Project production station required an intensive archaeological programme that focused on clearing the large development area ahead of the construction crew. The project team worked at the site for a number of months monitoring and excavating a wide variety of sites including areas of swamp, areas of pre-historic and 19th century occupation. The excavations revealed several archaeological sites and recovered numerous important artefacts, including a number of wooden utilitarian tools from the swamp areas.
Rectangular storage pits
Hangi stones in situ
Bell shaped pit profile
Stone lined hearth
Kakau (Adze handle)
Patu Aruhe (Fern root pounders)
Toki (Adze)
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Bell Block Bypass
Client
Auckland Uniservices
Location
Bell Block, Taranaki, New Zealand
Ouput
Geophysical Survey, Laser Scanning, Excavation
Geophysical surveys and excavations were undertaken at Bell Block following the discovery of a 19th century village called Te Oropuriri located within a development corridor earmarked for a motorway extension. The project comprised several seasons: Preliminary geophysical surveys indicated the extent of subsurface features, which were then partially excavated during the first season. A second season extended the initial excavation area with a third and final season concluded our excavations at the site. Several main occupation sequences were inditified including a historic gunfighter pa complex and a large wharenui (meeting house). More than three thousand archaeological features, and more than forty thousand artefacts, were recorded during the excavations.
Te Oropuriri Pa excavation site
Aerial view of Te Oropuriri
Gun fighter trench, Te Oropuriri
Excavated house floor and palisade row
Te Oropuriri feature mapping
Bell shape rua laser scan section
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Carlaw Park Development
Client
Haydn Rollett Construction
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Ouput
Survey and Excavation
The development of Carlaw Park, once the home of rugby league in New Zealand, revealed a significant archaeological site relating to early industrial development in Auckland. In the 1840s, Carlaw Park was an early industrial centre and the site of one of the city’s first flour mills – the Low and Motion Flour Mill, then followed a tannery, and then in the 1880s a Chinese market garden, which was one of Auckland’s earliest Chinese settlements. Geometria undertook an archaeological assessment, historical research and excavation of the site.
Excavations underway at Carlaw Park
Brick path and floor
Excavations underway at Carlaw Park
Wood barrel in situ
Members of the Chinese community cleaning artefacts
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