Short and Sharp Archaeology!

Get a bit of archaeology on your way home! Four short (10mins each) illustrated talks on archaeology in Wellington and beyond:

• Victoria Grouden: “Archaeology and the Wellington City District Plan” – a brief look at some exciting new additions to the heritage schedule and why these sites were considered.

• Emily Howitt: “Well, That Was Unexpected” The unexpected discovery of an artesian well at the on the construction site of the new National Archives building on Mulgrave Street led to the excavation of a trove of well-preserved nineteenth century artefacts. The artefacts paint a picture of domestic resourcefulness, and the Kiwi number eight wire mentality of creatively using what you have available.

• Sarah Dugdale: “From China to New Zealand: Textiles on the Goldfields”. During excavations in the Chinese section of the Gabriel Street cemetery in Lawrence, Central Otago, textiles were found in several graves. Textiles from one grave in particular were analysed and characterised in a 2021 thesis. The remnant textiles were found to be a mix of traditional Chinese and European style clothing, creating a glimpse into the conflicting interests of practicality, acculturation and cultural practice present on the gold fields in the late 19th century.

• Mary O’Keeffe: “Weird Wellington” – curious facts and features of our city as revealed by archaeology.

Free Event