The Māori archaeology of Te Raki Paewhenua/North Shore
David Veart (Author), Auckland North Community and Development (Organisation) (Issuing body)
"Dave's presentation focussed on the archaeological sites of the Devonport - Takapuna peninsula, of which there are hundreds. When Pākeha began to settle in the Devonport area, settlers lived side by side with local hapu who had stone walled gardens expanding up and down the entire peninsula. The volcanic soil was ideal for growing many crops including kumara and peach trees! Ferdinand von Hochstetter was a European geologist, who in the 1850s traversed the peninsula and recorded the scope of Māori settlement; including the crops grown, kai moana (sea food), and the overall landscape. 'On passing along the beach we came upon a scaffold about 39 feet long... A long row of fish, sharks and other kinds were supended from it to dry...Fat pigs and lean dogs were running about; and farther on there were some Maori huts. The two old folks sitting at the door hailed us with their cordial Tenakoe, while black eyed, half-naked children were staring at us... The plantings about the huts, consisting of potatoes, cabbage and other ordinary vegetables, were in a tolerably good state of cultivation, and surrounded by a wall of lava-blocks... about four feet high up which lianas... were climbing.' - Ferdinand von Hochstetter, 1859. Dave also talked of what the flora and fauna would have been like 1000 years ago. Could we imagine walking outside of the Mary Thomas Centre and spotting three types of moa wandering around, and huge podocarp trees running the length of the peninsula?"--ancad.org.nz
Print Book, English, 2018
Auckland North Community and Development, Takapuna, Auckland, [New Zealand], 2018