Yet another year gone! It’s been a strange one, out there in the world, but here at Underground Overground it’s been a year of excavation, discoveries, stories and all things archaeological. In the proper spirit of history, let’s take a … Continue reading →
It’s that time of year again, the summer season is upon us, and this year has really has brought the heat! With much of the country sweltering in the late 20s and early 30s lately, it’s made us appreciate the … Continue reading →
During recent earthquake repairs at a residential property on well-known Sumner Road in Lyttelton, our archaeologists uncovered a small assemblage of artefacts that represented everyday Victorian household items. At first glance these appeared a somewhat ordinary – but when Lydia … Continue readi...
Justice Minister Andrew Little has met with families who lost loved ones in the CTV building collapse in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
"There are major faults in low-seismicity areas that could produce a major event."
Today, art is my inspiration, at least as a starting point. The title of this blog post may seem whimsical, but it is both a practical description of our subject today and a reference to the art of centuries past. … Continue reading →
We have published previously on the importance of buildings, be they residential or commercial, as an artefact in understanding 19th century culture in New Zealand. While it’s easy to overlook the humble cottage as a source of archaeological data, houses … Continue reading →
Just last week the city was rocked by four small earthquakes.
The idea of a ‘souvenir’, as a physical keepsake of a place or event, is not a new concept. It’s been around for as long as people have been bringing home exotic treasures from far-off lands, or trying to preserve … Continue reading →
Imagine, if you will, that you were born in 1870. Your parents are colonists who journeyed to Christchurch to build a new life for themselves and their family. They’re not rich, but you live comfortably enough in this new country. … Continue reading →
Underfloor deposits are as exasperating as they are exciting. Exasperating because the context is not particularly secure: objects usually accumulate under a house over time (thrown or swept from the outside, lost or dropped between the floorboards, dragged in by … Continue reading →
Matti McEachen was killed by falling masonry in the 2011 earthquake.
In 1848, when the City of Christchurch was nothing but a design concept of the Canterbury Association back in London the idea of a ‘little slice of England’ (but half the world away) was born (Rice 2014, 9). Exactly how … Continue reading →
The pair tried to use official information to personally profit from the post-earthquake recovery.
Transcript of Jessica Lovell's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Perry Hyde's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Chris's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Savannah Tarren's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Summary of oral history interview with Krystal about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Transcript of Carolin Stechel's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Peter Field's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Alia Hope-Wilson's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Emma Parnell's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Summary of oral history interview with Rebecca Gordon about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Lois Herbert about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Phillippa Jacobs about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Susan Hird about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Ruth Todd about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Michelle about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Gillian Laing about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.