Archaeology

The Material History of Christchurch

David Neighbours

The Canterbury earthquakes and aftershocks that began on 4 September 2010 caused unprecedented damage in Christchurch: much of the city’s infrastructure was destroyed and damaged buildings had to be demolished. This presented a unique opportunity for archaeologists: the new earthworks laid bare the material history of Christchurch, uncovering a wealth of artefacts dating from early Māori settlement, through the period of British colonialism, to the present day.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) was the organ of central government that oversaw the archaeological work. The 2014 Act of Parliament (which replaced the Historic Places Act 1993) under which it operates states that the development of any site dating from earlier than 1900 requires an archaeological authority, which “regulates the recovery of information from that site” and the “conditions that must be followed”.

The Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) was the virtual organisation under which the archaeological work in Christchurch was carried out. It is a collaboration between central and local government and contracted businesses like Underground Overground Archaeology Ltd. to carry out the archaeological work. Between 2011 and now, over 200 archaeological reports have been compiled about sites in Christchurch, most of them by Underground Overground Archaeology Ltd.

In the course of their work, the archaeologists have catalogued over one million artefacts including clothing and shoes, tools and utensils, glassware, ceramics, pottery and building materials. Many of these finds have been detailed in Christchurch uncovered, the monthly online journal of Underground Overground Archaeology Ltd. A permanent online exhibition of the artefacts may be seen at the website of the Museum of Archaeology Ōtautahi (MoAŌ).

To date, these archaeological investigations have yielded an enormous amount of information about life in Christchurch during the Nineteenth Century; items left behind have uncovered details about individual and family life, and official records alongside old city planning revealed historic evidence of community and civic life in Christchurch.

Resources:

• Global Archaeology Authority - Christchurch City - This is an authority granted by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, providing the authority to carry out earthquake repair work that might have affected archaeological sites within the Christchurch City area.
• Global Archaeology Authority - Lyttleton - This is an authority granted by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, providing the authority to carry out earthquake repair work that might have affected archaeological sites within the Lyttelton area.
• Fairfax Video, October 2011 (2) - This is a video interview with Andy Dodd, archaeologist at Underground Overground Archaeology, and Rewi Couch, representative for Te Hapu o Ngai Te Wheke, about the excavation of the site of the former Lyttelton Post Office on Norwich Quay.
• Fairfax Video, January 2013 (6) - This is a video interview with artefact analyst Gwen Jackson, about the hundreds of artefacts found under the Isaac Theatre Royal, including bottles and ceramic shards.
• Fairfax Video, February 2013 (1) - This is a video tour of two completed shops in New Regent Street. Mark Galletly from Galletly Builders talks about the damage caused by the 22 February 2011 earthquake, the work that was done to restore the shops, and the items that archaeologists found on the sites, which included the foundations of a nineteenth century ice skating rink, and bowling shoes.
• Ferry Road Stormwater Brick Barrel Christchurch: Report on Archaeological Monitoring - This is a report which details the archaeological investigations carried out during the course of SCIRT projects 11115 and 11159, wastewater renewal work and storm water repair work on Ferry Road.
• Manchester Street Water Mains, Christchurch: Report on Archaeological Monitoring - This is a report which details the archaeological investigations carried out during the course of SCIRT project 11185, water main renewal work on Manchester Street.
• Tramway, Tuam Street: Report on Archaeological Investigations - This is a report which details the archaeological investigations carried out during the course of SCIRT project 10952, wastewater renewal work on Tuam Street.
• Sorensens Place, Christchurch: Report on Archaeological Monitoring - This is a report which details the archaeological investigations carried out during the course of SCIRT project 11232, wastewater renewal work in Sorensens Place.
• Having a blast in the past - This is a report which describes SCIRT's discoveries and processes regarding archaeological finds on worksites.
• Gloucester Street Bridge, Christchurch: Report on Archaeological Monitoring - This is a report which details the archaeological monitoring carried out during the course of SCIRT project 11136, repairs to the Gloucester Street bridge.
• “101 Demolitions: How a Disaster Shed Light on Life in Nineteenth Century Christchurch” | Katharine Watson - This thesis is about one hundred and one houses from across Christchurch (but concentrated in those areas hit hardest by the earthquakes), built between 1850 and 1900. It examines the question of what life was like in nineteenth century Christchurch through these houses and the people who built them.

General Searches:

To search the CEISMIC collection for information and resources on the Christchurch earthquakes and archaeology, get started with one of the links below.

• To explore SCIRT documents about archaeology, click here.
• To explore the HNZPT reports on archaeological sites in Christchurch, click here.
• To explore Underground Overground Archaeology’s Christchurch uncovered online journal, click here.
• To view the exhibition at the Museum of Archaeology Ōtautahi (MoAŌ), click here.