Archaeology

Carter, Matthew J. (2011): People, Place and Space: The Martime Cultural Landscape of Otago Harbour.
Findlater, Amy M. (2011): Recontextualising Material Culture: An investigation of the minnow lure shanks from Kawatiri River Mouth and Wairau Bar, Southern New Zealand..
Glover, Jenepher (2011): St Clair (Koterakeatea) and the Early Prehistoric Period Economy.
Hogg, Nicholas W.G. (2011): Specialised Production of Early-Lapita Pottery: A Skill Analysis of Pottery from the Island of Emirau.
Kirk, Fiona (2011): Beyond reasonable doubt? Testing the cultural origin of bird bone recovered from archaeological contexts.
2010
Harsveldt, Patrick (2010): The Architecture of Isolation'. Defining the New Zealand Backcountry Hut.
Thompson, Adam (2010): Land Snail and Soil Analysis in Atoll Archaeology: with special reference to Atafu Atoll, Tokelau Islands.
2009
Bowron-Muth, Sreymony (2009): Buller and Heaphy: A social interpretation of two Archaic West Coast Settlements.
This thesis investigates the material culture assemblage and spatial patterning of two Archaic sites on the West Coast of the South Island – Buller River Mouth (K29/8) and Heaphy River Mouth (L26/1). Two key themes are explored in this thesis. The first theme argues that New Zealand archaeology can benefit from ideas and discussions from social anthropology. The second theme investigates the concept of space in both archaeology and social anthropology, and uses this as a medium to explore how links can be made between the two sub-disciplines.

The analysis of material culture showed that Buller and Heaphy are both artefactualy representative of the Archaic Phase of New Zealand prehistory. Both have a large and varied artefact assemblage containing adzes, flakes, blades, hammer stones, minnow lures, drill points and other artefact types.

The intra-site spatial analysis demonstrated areas of concentrated fire features, cooking areas, pavement areas, possible domestic buildings, stone working activity areas, adze caches, areas of oven rake out, specialized stone material manufacturing floors. With three exceptions, both Buller and Heaphy share features and activity areas that were common with each other.

This thesis argues that New Zealand archaeology can benefit by using ideas from social anthropology, and demonstrates how this can be done by interpreting the artefactual and spatial results in light of some ideas from social anthropology. The interpretation focused on three key ideas: 1) The social construction of space, 2) Ian Hodder’s concept of Domus, Agrios and Foris and 3) Lévi-Strauss notions of sociétés à maison or house societies. The resulting discussion illustrates how a rich series of overlaying contextual interpretations can be an effective approach to understanding and interpreting New Zealand archaeology.

Mann, Sarah Rose (2009): How to Catch a Leatherjacket: Prehistoric Fishing Strategies at Arthur Black's Midden, Opito Bay, New Zealand.
This thesis is aimed at exploring the continuity between the fishing methods used in tropical East Polynesia and those in New Zealand. In order to investigate this fishbone from Arthur Black’s Midden (ABM), Opito Bay will be analysed using an in-depth methodology where twelve elements (articular, ceratohyal/epihyal, cleithrum, dentary, dorsal spine, hyomandibular, inferior and superior pharyngeal plate, maxilla, opercule, premaxilla, quadrate, and scapula) were identified to fish taxonomy. This data will be used in-conjunction with information generated on the diet, habitat, and behaviour of the species of fish identified within the assemblage. This form of analysis has only been done once in New Zealand (Coutts 1979), and was carried out in order to establish which fishing methods may have been used to capture each taxa of fish.

Initial qualitative results show that leatherjacket (Parika scaber) was the most abundant taxa caught at Opito Bay. This does not fit the regional fish catch outlined by Leach and Boocock (1993) or Anderson (1997), where snapper (Pargus auratus) is the highest ranked taxa. Based on the abundance levels of fish within the later levels of occupation for ABM and the information presented on each taxon, it can be implied that some form of either netting or trapping was employed at Opito Bay. There is also evidence that implies that the occupation of Opito Bay was a permanent settlement, not a temporary seasonal fishing camp. The methodology used in this analysis has showed the benefits of increasing the number of elements used in the analysis of fishbone from archaeological sites in New Zealand.

Jennings, Christopher G (2009): The Use of Southland Argillite in New Zealand Prehistory.
This thesis explores the use of six major sources of Southland argillite in New Zealand prehistory. The research investigated the use of the stone in terms of both extraction and manufacture technologies, but also its geographic distribution and the time periods it was in use. The sources were visited to describe their physical setting and the characteristics of the stone. Adzes from museum collections were investigated to identify Southland argillite adzes, determine their find locations and record morphological data. Chronological information was obtained using adze typologies and investigating Southland argillite associations with moa-hunting and radiocarbon dates.

The sources have differing physical characteristics and occurred in a variety of forms which required different methods of extraction. These forms had a direct bearing on the form of adzes and manufacture methods that were required depending on the limitations or advantages of the different stones.

Southland argillite was used in the first centuries after New Zealand colonisation, until declining a few centuries later. The distribution of the stone was mainly concentrated around Southland and East Otago, although also extending into Fiordland, Central Otago and Canterbury. Transient villages were the main form of settlement in southern New Zealand during this period of time, a system which procured resources through a larger territory of exploitation. Southland argillite was obtained, worked and deposited within this territory as part of this system. As this form of settlement declined due in southern New Zealand, Foveaux Strait was no longer heavily exploited an Southland argillite dropped out of use.

2008
Butcher, Maria (2008):Fish and Shellfish in the Colonial New Zealand Food System.
Colonial New Zealand society can be accessed through historical archaeology. However, the full potential of the discipline in this country has yet to be realised. To date, historical archaeology in New Zealand has suffered from a lack of overviews, syntheses, or even of arguments. This thesis is about a particular class of food – fish, shellfish and crustaceans – in the Colonial New Zealand food system. Eating is understood as part of a process, that begins when the food item is planted, gathered, bred or caught, and ends when the leftovers are thrown away. Evidence is drawn from a range of sources, to trace the process by which a living animal is transformed into a commodity, to food, to waste, and finally, to a representation of itself in an archaeological report. A re-analysis of published and un-published faunal data from relevant archaeological sites was undertaken, to determine what the archaeological evidence reveals about eating fish and shellfish in nineteenth century New Zealand. The remains of sheep, pigs and cows very much dominated the assemblages that were considered. However, these assemblages cannot be considered directly reflective of the diet. Based upon historical evidence, fish and shellfish remains are underrepresented in historic period assemblages. Historical research focussed upon three areas: supply, distribution and consumption. The historical evidence shows that fish and oysters were available to the pakeha colonists, from Maori suppliers in the early days, and later via the burgeoning colonial fishing industry. Cookery writing of the time shows that the readers of recipe books and newspaper cooking columns wanted to eat New Zealand fish, oysters and crustaceans.

Edwards, Bill (William Glyn) (2008): Techological Change at Hayes Engineering Works, Oturehua, New Zealand.
How does innovation in material culture occur? In this thesis, I critically examine the role of the individual in this process and contrast it against a wider background of political, economic and technological change.

The case study selected is Hayes Engineering Works, Oturehua, Central Otago, New Zealand. Hayes Engineering manufactured durable products for the agricultural industry. The period selected for this thesis is 1895 to 1926, which coincides with the founders Ernest and Hannah Hayes’ active involvement in the business.

The theoretical position of this thesis is that change in material culture is not the result of individuals, but builds upon the efforts of many. I examine and demonstrate the connections between the artefacts at Hayes Engineering Works and the wider world.

This is in contrast to a widely held myth that material culture especially associated with agriculture in New Zealand, developed because of isolation. I argue the opposite, and conclude that this material culture developed because of a myriad of connections; personal, professional and technological. An economic and political framework, combined with the skills of the individual, led to changes in material culture.

McPherson, Sheryl (2008): Bone Awls in Prehistoric New Zealand.
Bone awls are a class of worked bone points that are poorly understood in New Zealand prehistory. With the exception of a dissertation on bone awls from the Chatham Island (Cave 1976), there has been no specialist study into bone awls from mainland New Zealand. The aim of this thesis is to compile the published literature available on bone awls from prehistoric New Zealand sites and produce a standardised methodology to analyse these implements. This research also examines what is published in the literature, and how this relates to what is present in museum collections.

Bone points from Little Papanui (J44/1) are selected to test the awl typology developed by Cave and to clearly define these artefacts based on morphological characteristics. Furthermore, this research determines if her typology is applicable for use on another awl sample and how the results from both sites compare.

The result of this exercise was the development of a new method for awl analysis that incorporates the strengths of Cave’s typology and the research that has been conducted in the last 30 years. Additionally, this thesis identifies the issues that are faced when studying a difficult and poorly understood artefact class.
Sarjeant, Carmen (2008): Form-Plus-Fabric: Northeast Thailand Ceramic Technology from the Bronze to Iron Ages.
This study traced changes in the form and fabric of ceramics vessels from the Bronze to Iron Age at Ban Non Wat, Khorat Plateau, Northeast Thailand. A complementary ethnoarchaeological component assessed modern ceramic fabrics and manufacturing techniques from the nearby potting village, Ban Thakok, in order to infer behaviours of prehistoric potters.

Mortuary ceramics were sampled from the cultural phases, Bronze Age 1 to 4 and Iron Age 1 to 2, for form-plus-fabric analysis. ‘Form-plus-fabric’ brings together stylistic studies (form) and scientific research strategies (fabric or paste). The aim was to characterise vessel form and fabric changes through time. The notable difference between Bronze and Iron Age pot forms was the foundation for an investigation of whether there was a sudden or gradual change in ceramic technology as these forms modified. Both cultural (form) and technological (fabric) attribute analyses were required to place ceramic traditions within the changing socio-political environment into the Iron Age.

Ceramic vessels were stylistically analysed by recording form, size and surface treatment in the field and from photographs. Eighteen vessel form groups were identified. Ceramic fabric analysis utilised the electron microprobe Energy Dispersive Spectrometer and microscopic imaging to identify temper choices, natural non-plastic inclusions of the potting clay and the clay matrix composition, followed by a Principal Component Analysis. Untempered and quartz sand, rice husk, grog and shell tempered wares made from chemically similar local clays were identified. The local clays were subdivided into ten groups. Analysis of upper and lower portions of the same vessel revealed that some comprised multiple fabrics, inclusive of different tempering methods. This discovery justifies the collection and recording of multiple diagnostic sherds from a single vessel.

Local raw clay sources were sampled and comparisons between clay matrix compositions within prehistoric ceramics and clay sources revealed they were chemically similar. Observations at Ban Thakok revealed that rice chaff tempers and local clays were applied in both prehistoric and modern potting fabrics. Greater processing of the temper was evident in modern ceramic manufacture. These similar practices for clay and temper selection suggest continuity in ceramic technology from the past to the present.

A ceramic technology sequence based on form and fabric findings was established for the Bronze and Iron ages at Ban Non Wat. Rice temper introductions mark the earliest change in ceramic technology at the advent of Bronze Age 3, around 790 BC. This is the earliest postulated date for rice tempering on the Khorat Plateau and was simultaneous with fewer exotic goods and a shift in mortuary treatments. Vessel forms associated with the Iron Age were present from Bronze Age 4. Clay selection was local throughout the sequence, however some diversification in sourcing from Iron Age 1 suggests there was a greater demand for clay in craft industries from this time. Mortuary practices continued to change from Bronze Age 4. The results demonstrated that there was a gradual transition from Bronze to Iron Age ceramic traditions, and certain prehistoric traditions persist to the present in Northeast Thailand.
Turner, Rachel (2008): Cultural Heritage and Identity of Two South Island Iwi Groups: An Archaeological Ethnography.
Scholarly debate and anthropological research involving the resurgence of indigenous political power and cultural heritage in New Zealand tends to focus on the relationship of Māori to places of significance from the past. Few studies have considered the unique political strategies that individual tribes employ to regain control of their cultural heritage in modern and post-modern times. This thesis presents new ethnographic data derived from the case studies of two separate South Island iwi authorities: Ngāti Kuri of Kaikōura and Manawhenua ki Mōhua in Golden and Tasman Bays. Additionally, a reflexive archaeological literature review of archaeological practices and management in New Zealand is presented in historical context. The interface of the data gathered from these two disciplines constitutes a hybrid anthropological approach that reveals significant differences between the two iwi groups in regard to their political and cultural heritage efforts and their relationship to archaeology. Ngāti Kuri, by taking full advantage of existing legislation, have settled their Treaty claims. The data suggest that the choice of political strategy employed significantly affects the outcomes of heritage protection. One iwi authority finds that it is advantageous to utilise Crown legislation while the other considers this a compromise of their cultural identity and maintains a sceptical approach. Though strategies vary, the data identify the relationship between important places and taonga of the past, and the contemporary cultural identity and well-being of both iwi groups.

Williams, Erin Frances (2008):Fire Use and Fire Risk in Pre-European New Zealand.
Excepting those from wet and heavily forested areas of the western districts, nearly every pollen diagram in New Zealand indicates a substantial transformation in vegetation composition at around 750-550 NP. Southern New Zealand, in particular, has been subject to especially dramatic vegetation changes. So, how and why was so much of the southern landscape burnt at around the time of early Maori settlement? This research used a multidisciplinary approach to offer an explanation for the complicated sequence of events which led to that end result.

An examination of Polynesian fire practices established the perceptions and uses of fire that Maori may have brought with them to New Zealand. A full examination of Maori fire practices, using traditional, historical and archaeological information, built an understanding of how pre-European Maori used fire in New Zealand, and disclosed many similarities with Polynesian fire uses.

A review of major climate and vegetation changes in southern New Zealand, the study area, has revealed an infrequent and patchy natural fire regime with virtually no natural fire in wetter regions. Case studies from four areas of southern New Zealand demonstrated the influence of Maori and their fires in varying climate and vegetation conditions.

Maori settled in New Zealand during a period of increased El Niño Southern Oscillation activity, which increased fire risk in central and eastern areas of the South Island. During early settlement, southern Maori maintained a fairly settled lifestyle close to resource clusters of moa and seal. With big game numbers dwindling, and due to the impossibility of reliably growing traditional Polynesian cultigens in areas south of Banks Peninsula, southern Maori adopted a subsistence strategy based around the exploitation of seasonally abundant indigenous resources. It is proposed that this subsistence strategy favoured the opening up of closed forest through fire use to create a more diverse set of ecological communities, resulting in a richer and more varied set of subsistence resources. Regular movement of southern Maori into the dry interior to fire bracken (Pteridium esculentum) stands further exacerbated the fire risk. Anthropogenic pre-European fire had a profound effect on dry areas of southern New Zealand, while damper areas such as Fiordland and the Catlins remained largely forested.

2007
Barribeau, Tim (2007): The Bronze Age Funerary Ceramics of Ban Non Wat.
This thesis analyses the evidence for the beginnings of social differentiation in the Bronze Age of Northeast Thailand. It does so though the analysis of Bronze Age burials at the site of Ban Non Wat in the Mun River Valley of Thailand, and the artefacts associated with those interments, with special focus being paid to ceramic vessels.

Vessel form, decoration, location and associated artefacts were all used as data for the analyses undertaken. Statistical, numerical, spatial and comparative analyses were performed to gain a fuller understanding of the social basis and implications for the manner in which the dead were interred at Ban Non Wat. A seriation chronology was developed based on vessel form and count in these burials in order to interpret the temporal implications of the interments.

The results showed that there were distinct changes in the mortuary practices across the Bronze Age, with early burials being spread around the site and having a large number and wide variety of artefacts, which then slowly developed into a tradition of burials with fewer artefacts in more localised areas. Over this time period, the occurrences of bronze artefacts decreased, the there was a change in the forms of associated pottery found. There also appear to have been specific forms of pots that are associated with burials that had a large numbers of interred artefacts, or with bronze goods.

This suggests a period of social change and development, where there were major alterations in material goods used for interment, and a corresponding development of social differentiation. These conclusions may be tested further in the near future with the addition of radiocarbon analyses from individual burials. Until such time, the evidence presented in this thesis seems to suggest strongly that there was early social differentiation in the Bronze Age of the Mun River Valley of Thailand.

Beu, Katerina (2007): Towards explaining the long pause in the prehistoric colonisation of Polynesia.
The Lapita people, the ancestors of the Polynesians, first appeared in the Bismarck Archipelago north of New Guinea in about 3300 BP (years Before Present). They migrated east and colonised the islands of the Solomons, Reef and Santa Cruz, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. This migration occurred relatively rapidly, but upon reaching West Polynesia in about 2900 BP their eastward migration ceased. This cessation in migration is known as the long pause, and it lasted until the Polynesians, the descendents of the Lapita people, reached East Polynesia in c. 1200-1000 BP.

There are several theories that attempt to explain the reasons for the long pause. This thesis proposes that a combination of constraining factors, including markedly decreased island accessibility east of the Andesite Line (Di Piazza et al., 2006), an undeveloped sailing technology (Anderson, 2000), climatic constraints imposed by the need to wait for El Niño periods and their concomitant westerly winds in order to sail eastwards (Anderson et al., 2006), and social factors, provides an adequate explanation for the Polynesian pause.

This thesis is based on a review of the literature, and critically analyses the various models of Polynesian prehistory by comparing them against the established archaeology.
Coote, Logan (2007): 101 Years: D'Urville Island and the Development of the Archaeological Record in New Zealand.
The interest in archaeological sites on D’Urville Island began about a century ago. My recent survey of the south eastern corner shows that site recording has not been comprehensive. This thesis examines the possible reasons for this. It also identifies factors crucial toward understanding the development of the archaeological record on south eastern D’Urville Island and addresses the larger practical and theoretical issues involved in New Zealand site recording. Other islands and the mainland will be used as a comparison to D’Urville Island to see if the factors defined operate in a wider context. Together, these examples identify other factors which can also affect the development of the archaeological record. They lead to a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of what affects site recording and how the archaeological record is developed from an island perspective. Understanding these factors, within the New Zealand archaeological record, should increase the effectiveness of future surveys and the assessment of the existing archaeological record.
2006
Cable, Nicholas (2006): Greenstone Distribution Networks in Southern New Zealand.
This thesis examines the prehistoric distribution networks of pounamu (greenstone) in the South Island of New Zealand. It is based upon analyses of physical and location data recorded from collections of greenstone artefacts in major museums across New Zealand. Previous studies on the role of stone tools within exchange systems have focused on the key areas of raw material procurement and technological attributes. Recent studies, particularly on obsidian, have begun to merge the results of source characterisation studies with assemblage based distribution analyses.

Although museum collections cannot be viewed as artefact assemblages for accurate distribution analysis, they are well suited for provided regional information on intrinsic qualities such as technological attributes and raw material availability. Comparison of independent museum samples in this study found significant consistent patterns in the regional proportional data between the samples and significant variation in source proportions between the regions.

Analysis of the regional source patterns indicated that two separate distributions networks operated in the South Island, distinguished by the transportation of source material along the west and east coastlines of the South Island. In the case of the eastern coastline, this source material was transported overland from remote inland locations before being redistributed from coastal centres. The results also indicate that the two coastal networks operated independently of each other, possibly due to socio-political divisions between the east and west.