Over Queen’s Birthday weekend the Ngāi Tahu Māori Rock Art Trust, with rūnanga support, ran an archaeological excavation at one of the public rock art sites on Three Mile Bush Rd in Hazelburn.
The site is prone to flooding in heavy rain, causing damage to the rock art. The objective of the excavation was to carefully remove cultural material in the floor of the rock shelter so a drain could be installed to stop any further damage to the rock drawings. Trust Fieldworker Brian Allingham directed the work with help from Rock Art Trust staff, Department of Conservation archaeologist Shar Briden, and several volunteers.
A large area of fresh water mussel shell was revealed, along with the bones of extinct birds (including moa) and kiore, plus some flaked stone tools and a piece of kokowai. Charcoal was also collected from the excavation and will be used to give an approximate date that the shelter was being used by ngā tūpuna. A full report on the excavation will be completed once all of the bird bone has been identified.
Removing cultural material from an excavation site.