Earthquakes reveal Christchurch history

More than 100,000 artefacts have been dug up around Christchurch since the 2011 earthquakes creating an internationally significant collection.

Archaeologist Katharine Watson, Founder of local company Underground Overground Archaeology, says the finds are a rich resource, conjuring up the lives of people who used to live here. 

Archaeologists sift through a site now occupied by The Piano. Photo: Kim Bone

"In a city that’s lost so much of its public heritage, we’re incredibly lucky to have this resource, and there’s recognition overseas of the significance of this collection which is notable for its size and completeness. It's a fantastic opportunity from a research point of view, and it gives us a much richer sense of Christchurch’s past,” Ms Watson says.With so much of the city being excavated for new developments to replace those lost in the quakes, Christchurch has had a unique opportunity to uncover its history.

Finds from early European settlement include ceramics, bottles, mustard jars, old wells, animal bones, and brick structures such as a largely intact factory floor from a foundry in the 1900s on the site of the new Justice and Emergency Precinct.

An example of a fire tank - a structure 38 metres long made out of brick and concrete that was used to store water for the fire service in the 19th century - was found under the site earmarked for the new Convention Centre.

Ms Watson has also worked on sites dating back to early Maori settlements. Earth ovens used by local Maori were exposed on the side of a trench in Redcliffs and stone tools, midden (a rubbish heap of shellfish, charcoal and bird bones) dating back to Waitahi or Ngati Mamoe (pre-Ngai Tahu) settlements were found in Moncks Cave in Redcliffs.

Maori artefacts are covered by the Protected Objects Act, but most of the other finds are now in storage. Non-Maori artefacts are legally the property of the landowner at the time they are dug up, but are held by the archaeology company until Heritage New Zealand approves a technical report about them.

Ms Watson has just stepped down as head of Underground Overground to focus on research and completing a PhD, but her other goal is to find a permanent home for significant Christchurch artefacts recovered since the quakes. She hopes this will be in a museum-type setting where the public can find out more about them.

“What we have here is too important not to save and preserve for the future. The artefacts we've got are pretty important because they tell us stories. They can be used for education. We're learning about Christchurch's early occupants and what they were like.”Underground Overground has about a thousand boxes of items kept at three storage units and a laboratory. 

Ms Watson gave a presentation to Christchurch City Council staff recently to explain to the importance of archaeology. The Council's Asset Management Team has introduced a new system to ensure the proper process is followed before embarking on work that might affect an archaeological site.

All developers must apply to Heritage New Zealand for an Archaeological Authority if a site was occupied prior to 1900. Without this approval, the Council or any other developer can be fined or prosecuted for damaging artefacts or capital work.

Ms Watson says demolition crews and contractors working on the ground are now more aware of how to treat sensitive sites.

“People tend to take it pretty seriously these days. That’s been another positive outcome following the earthquakes.”