15. What can archaeological discoveries teach us about New Zealand’s past?

Recent Blogs have covered Māori oral history providing evidence of pre-Polynesian habitation in New Zealand. Archeological evidence is the next category to be examined:

1. Māori Oral History Evidence

2. Archaeological Evidence: Artefacts and Features

   
   

Additional categories for discussion following this Archaeological Evidence include:

3. Evidence from DNA Analysis

4. Origins of the Māori Language

2.      Archaeological Evidence

Archaeology is the study of the human past through material remains. These remains can include any objects that people created, modified, or used. There are two main categories of material remains:

1. Portable remains, usually called artefacts, include tools, clothing, and decorations.

2. Non-portable remains, such as buildings or post-holes, are referred to as features.

Over time, New Zealand has been accumulating evidence of pre-Polynesian habitation and New Zealand's first settlers. Nevertheless, this research is restricted by environmental factors and the brief duration of modern settlement within the country, thereby limiting the extent of archaeological excavations.

A summary of the artefacts to be discussed include:

Archaeological Artefacts

1.1 Artefacts Recovered from a Dig at Poukawa

1.2 Carved Panels: Two carved panels of a similar style have been discovered in separate locations in Northland

1.3 Tamil Bell/Cooking Vessel

1.4   Polished Stone Tools

1.5 Cut-Off Tree Stump

1.6 Serpentine Stone Bird Carving

Archaeological Features

2.1 Weka Pass Ranges Art

2.2 Wairau Bar Excavation

2.3 Waipoua Stone Settlement

2.4 Poukawa Moa Excavation

2.5 Canal Networks

The following Blogs will provide the details around these artefacts and features which continues the discussion on who were New Zealand's first settlers.

Your next read in the series: 16. What can we learn about New Zealand's first settlers from the archaeological excavation at Poukawa, near Hastings?