NZAA Conference:
Conference 2008 4-8 June 2008, Solway Park Copthorne Hotel, Masterton
54th Annual Conference ‘Archaeology and New Technologies’.
Join us in Masterton to explore the use of new technologies in archaeology. A highlight of the conference will be the launch of the NZAA Digital Site Recording Scheme. Masterton is located in the Wairarapa region approximately 90 minutes drive northeast from Wellington. Travel by train from downtown Wellington right to the conference venue. There is a range of accommodation available, including motor camps, bed and breakfast establishments, farm stays, private holiday homes and motels to suit all budgets. Accommodation will also be available at the conference venue. "

 

St Bathans: Otago
DOC page

 

Skippers historic building maintenance: Otago volunteer programme
DOC request for volunteers:
Dates: Monday 4 February - Friday 8 February 2008 or Monday 11 February - Friday 15 February 2008

 

PDC News

 

Our third workshop, Artefacts: Excavation to Museum? held in Auckland on 6 July, was driven by the Protected Objects Act which came into force on 1 November 2006, resulting in several changes for practicing archaeologists.   After a period of consultancy, this workshop resulted in 'Guidelines' and 'Issues' documents which are published elsewhere in this issue of AINZ.   The Guidelines will also be posted on the Historic Places Trust website.

The topic of our fourth workshop was Faunal Analysis, held on 19 October at the Archaeo-zoology Laboratory, Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.   This workshop was very much in demand, especially as it had to be limited to 20 participants.   Janet Davidson organised the session, and was ably assisted by Rick McGovern-Wilson, Karen Greig. and Carolyn McGill, the Collections Manager at Te Papa Tongarewa, who kindly organised our discussion room and access to the archaeo-zoological laboratories.   This workshop aimed to show why the humble midden is a vitally important component of the New Zealand archaeological record, and to suggest how archaeologists particularly those working in public archaeology, can meet their responsibilities in this area.   The emphasis was on the sampling and identification of fish and shellfish remains, and touched on all the components of 'middens'.   As in previous sessions, much of the discussion was taped and this will provide the content for a feedback document to all who attended.   One significant request from those present was to know which reports are good examples of faunal analysis, research and presentation of data so that they can be used as models by consultants.

Due to the success of this workshop it will be repeated in April 2008, (fifth workshop in series) to enable all those who missed out the first time to participate

            The sixth workshop topic will be Lithic Analysis.   At this stage we are planning on holding this in July 2008 at the Anthropology Department, University of Auckland.   The organisation of this workshop will be courtesy of Peter Sheppard, Phil Moore and Marianne Turner.

Other topics have been proposed and will be advertised, with details in AINZ and by email.   If you know of anyone who might not be on our address list or you know of someone else who has changed their email please pass it on to Meri Low.

 

 

 

 

Digging up history at Cooks Cove - The Gisborne Herald Online: "

 

Radio New Zealand National : Programmes A-Z : Our Changing World
Tree ring: A ring in a cross section of a tree from one year’s growth. Gretel Boswijk is director of the University of Auckland’s Tree Ring Laboratory, where everything they study is through the lens of tree rings. Amelia Nurse visited the lab to talk to Gretel about the calibration of the Southern Hemisphere tree ring chronology and a new area of study – investigating what tree rings can reveal about colonial-era buildings.
Later the same afternoon, Gretel takes Amelia to an urban archaeological site – the former Carlaw Park, where Hans Dieter Bader is excavating the remains of a late 19th century Chinese home and market gardens. He shows Amelia features of the site and explains how his work is giving voice to a silent group in history.
Ed: A podcast of this is available.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007