Archaeological survey of Waitaki sites

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 21

Archaeological survey of Waitaki sites

Important archaeological sites in the lower Waitaki region are being destroyed by the development of farming and hydro-elec-tricity generation, according to an archaeologist. This was a point made in a report by Mr B. Vincent of the department of anthropology, University of Otago, who recentlyfinished a three-week survey of a 650 square kilometre area near the lower Waitaki on behalf of the Historic Places Trust. Financial assistance was provided by the Waitaki CAtchment Commission, and the Ministry of Works.

’The survey was to determine what sites exist in areas under threat now and in the future, to attempt to evaluate the amount of destruction, and to record site locations.

Many private irrigation s c hemes, particularly south of the river where intensive border dyking has been employed. • have caused and are continuing to cause “catastrophic” damage to archaeological sites encountered, the report says. Investigations have begun, aimed at producing a range of suitable options for future development of the lower Waitaki valley for power generation.

Whatever developments are finally preferred it is most likely that the associated earthworks and flooding will either damage or destroy any archaeological site that may be in the affected areas, the report says. Although many sites in the area have been damaged by farming and other activities in the last cen-

tury, a substantial number of sites have survived.

During the survey 44 sites were recorded including ovens, ditches, habitations, adzes and burials. Twenty-seven of these were oven sites.

Mr Vincent paid tribute to the “generous assistance” of the residents of the Waitaki and Hakataramea districts who helped him find many sites known to them. “Several farmers gave their time willingly and accompanied fieldworkers to various sites, at times devoting several days of their valuable time in the middle of a busy season.” Mr Vincent hopes that the survey and the report will act, as an incentive to farmers and developers to take into account the need to preserve archaeological sites.

He has recommended a more detailed examination of the sites and careful perusal of early historical documents in order to understand the archaeological significance of the area.

The senior archaeologist of the Historic Places Trust. Mr J. R. McKinlay. says the report demonstrates what can bo achieved by a combination of documentary and field researches. He hopes that the farmers and landowners in the district will appreciate that important historic and archaeological sites still exist in the area and that provided future land management is carried out sympathetically, many of these sites can be saved for future generations without lessening the productive potential of the land.