Southern P
Archaeological Assessment of
Compartment 39, Mt Allan Research Archaeological acific
Report Series Report
Prepared for Wenita Forest Products
by
Southern Pacific Archaeological Research
December 2012
No. No. 121
This report was prepared by Emma Brooks.
This report was reviewed by C Jacomb (5 December 2012).
Southern Pacific Archaeological Research
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
University of Otago
PO Box 56
DUNEDIN 9054
5 December 2012
Contents
Introduction ...... 1 Legislative Environment ...... 2 Scope ...... 3 History ...... 4 Results ...... 8 Assessment of Archaeological Values ...... 13 Summary of Values ...... 15 Assessment of Archaeological Effects ...... 15 Conclusion ...... 16 Recommendations ...... 17 References ...... 18 Appendix One Site Record Forms
Archaeological Assessment of Cpt 39, Mt Allan December 2012
Archaeological Assessment of Compartment 39, Mt Allan
INTRODUCTION
Wenita Forest Products is preparing to commence harvesting of Pinus radiata in Compartment 39 around Reef Creek which flows into Mullocky Stream approximately 500 m east of the Wingatui Viaduct on the Taieri Gorge Railway (Figure 1). During road construction in preparation for harvesting a water race and evidence of gold mining was identified on the true right side of Reef Creek. The earthworks were halted and Emma Brooks of Southern Pacific Archaeological Research (SPAR) was engaged to carry out an archaeological assessment of the features.
Figure 1. Location of Reef Creek, to the east of Mount Allan Road.
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Archaeological Assessment of Cpt 39, Mt Allan December 2012
LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT
There are two main pieces of legislation in New Zealand that regulate work affecting archaeological sites. These are the Historic Places Act 1993 (HPA) and the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
HPA The NZ Historic Places Trust administers the HPA. The HPA contains a consent (authority) process for any work where there is reasonable cause to suspect that an archaeological site or sites will be affected, where an archaeological site is defined as:
Any place in New Zealand that
(a) Either –
(i) was associated with human activity that occurred before 1900; or
(ii) is the site of the wreck of any vessel where that wreck occurred before 1900; and
(b) Is or may be able through investigation by archaeological methods to provide evidence relating to the history of New Zealand (HPA section 2)
Any person who intends to carry out work that will damage, modify or destroy an archaeological site, or to investigate a site using invasive archaeological techniques, must first obtain an authority from the Historic Places Trust. The process applies to sites on land of all tenure including public, private and designated land. The HPA contains penalties for unauthorised site damage or destruction.
The archaeological authority process applies to all sites that fit the HPA definition, regardless of whether:
• The site is recorded in the New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Recording Scheme or registered by the Trust,
• The site only becomes known about as a result of ground disturbance, and/ or
• The activity is permitted under a district or regional plan, or a resource or building consent has been granted.
RMA The Resource Management Act 1991 (s.6) identifies the protection of historic heritage from inappropriate subdivision, use and development as a matter of national importance (RMA Amendment Act 2003). In carrying out their functions under the RMA local authorities must, in relation to managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources, recognise and provide for matters of ‘national importance’.
Historic heritage is defined by the RMA (s.2) as follows:
Historic heritage:
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Archaeological Assessment of Cpt 39, Mt Allan December 2012
(a) means those natural and physical resources that contribute to an understanding and appreciation of New Zealand's history and cultures, deriving from any of the following qualities:
(i) archaeological: (ii) architectural: (iii) cultural: (iv) historic: (v) scientific: (vii) technological; and
(b) includes -
(i) historic sites, structures, places, and areas; and (ii) archaeological sites; and (iii) sites of significance to Maori, including wahi tapu; and (iv) surroundings associated with the natural and physical resources.(RMA s.2)
Local authorities have a responsibility to protect historic heritage within their district or region. Protecting historic heritage involves identifying historic heritage places, managing adverse effects and promoting the protection of heritage values in accordance with conservation principles (NZHPT 2004).
SCOPE
Wenita commissioned Southern Pacific Archaeological Research to undertake an archaeological assessment with the following four aims:
1. To identify archaeological sites present in the assessment area
2. To determine the scientific, heritage and amenity values of those sites
3. To assess the likely impact of the harvest on the archaeological sites
4. To recommend steps that could be taken to avoid or reduce the impact of the harvest on the archaeological sites in the assessment area
5. To advise whether or not an archaeological authority is required
A site visit was carried out by Emma Brooks (SPAR) and Bruce McDowell (Wenita) on 6 November 2012. The water race was followed along the true right bank of Reef Creek to the confluence with the first stream on the true left of Reef Creek. A reported mine shaft was also inspected.
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Figure 2. Extent of survey.
HISTORY
There is very little known about Maori use of this inland part of Otago. Broadly speaking, the history of Maori use of the wider region can be divided into early prehistoric, late prehistoric and historic. Early prehistoric use of the wider interior of Otago focussed on the hunting of moa and the processing of cabbage trees (ti), with some additional focus on the procurement of stone resources such as silcrete and porcellanite and, to a lesser extent, nephrite. The nearest place to the study area where moa hunting or processing has been identified is at Brighton (ArchSite).
Sites that can be confidently assigned to the late prehistoric period in Otago are few and far between, and none have been firmly identified in the vicinity of the study area. The moa had become extinct, through a combination of over-hunting and habitat destruction (burning of forest), within only a century or so of human arrival in New Zealand (Holdaway and Jacomb 2000) and there was no longer the need to obtain suitable stone for butchering tools. Cabbage trees (ti) continued to be an important resource if the few dated umu-ti (cabbage tree ovens) in the interior are any guide.
Most of the knowledge available for latter part of the prehistoric period relies on traditional histories, although we have not found any reference to specific sites or events in the near vicinity. The earliest European explorers described a Maori village at the Taieri Ferry, near Henley, which comprised “…two or three decent huts made
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Archaeological Assessment of Cpt 39, Mt Allan December 2012 of totara bark, and as many raised stages for potato stores …” (Shaw and Farrant 1949: 4). Shaw and Farrant also note that the Silverstream was known as Whaka-Ehu and that remains of camps and ovens are visible on the surrounding hills1. By the late 1840s the Maori Kaik had become the local “centre of habitation” (Shaw and Farrant 1949), supplemented by European whalers from the abandoned Tautuku whaling station.
The first Europeans to take up land in the North Taieri were William Gibson and N.J.B. McGregor. Run 39 comprised some 25,000 acres (Shaw and Farrant 1949: 147) and was bounded by the Taieri River to the west, Powder Hill to the south, Silverstream to the east and the northern boundary had a dog leg from Allan Creek to the Waikouaiti River (Thompson 1949: 7). This run was taken up by McGregor in 1854 and was farmed until the current stand of pine trees was planted in 1987.
Gold was discovered in the Taieri Gorge in 1863 only two years after its discovery at Gabriels Gully. In July 1863 Simon Fraser applied for a prospecting claim “on a creek which rises on Boulder Hill on the east bank of the Taieri about sixteen miles from Dunedin” (Shaw and Farrant 1949: 129) where sluicing and tunnelling were used. The gold was initially brought out to Dunedin directly by the miners but soon a weekly escort was instituted, the first of which arrived in Dunedin on 29 October 1863 with 904 oz.
An 1867 survey plan shows two mining licenceblocks in a gully whose name is unfortunately illegible on the plan. When geoferenced these blocks are within Reef Creek (Figure 3). Antimony was also mined extensively in the Taieri Gorge area with the largest operation being at Barewood, on the true left of the Taieri River near Hindon.
There is little information currently available about mining activities in the Reef Creek area until the late 1870s. In his report of 1878 the Warden reported the following:
The only change in the goldfield has been the prospecting of some apparently well-defined quartz reefs in the vicinity of Mullocky Gully. Several parties have taken up mining lease areas there, which await survey before the applications are finally dealt with. It is the intention of one of the parties to erect machinery for thoroughly testing the stone, from a trial crushing of which a very fair prospect has already been obtained. Judging by reports that have reached me from time to time, I have reason to believe that ere long one or more of the reefs now known to be auriferous will prove payably so. (AJHR 1878 H-04: 24)
1 There are no sites recorded in ArchSite relating to Maori use of the area but there have been no systematic archaeological surveys of the Silverstream catchment. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 5
Archaeological Assessment of Cpt 39, Mt Allan December 2012
A survey plan dated 1879 (SO 1521) shows a large part of Reef Creek contained within a Mining Reserve and an antimony reef is indicated to the east of the creek just south of the first tributary on the true left. On the same tributary is a small blue shaded area that may be a dam (Figure 4). Unfortunately there are no specific references in the Warden’s reports about the success of the mining here or the individuals involved.
Figure 3. Extract from SO 6802, dated 1867, which shows two mining areas in Reef Creek.
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Figure 4. Extract from SO 1521 which shows the mining reserve around Reef Creek and the possible dam (red circle).
There appears to have been further interest in the area in the late 1880s. In April 1888 James Butler applied for a licence to prospect for antimony in 200 acres of mining reserve in Block I Silver Peaks (Otago Witness 9 March 1888). The survey plan prepared for this application (SO 6807, Figure 5) indicates several areas of mining activity down Reef Creek with a dam on the same tributary shown in Figure 4. Butler’s application was declined but no reason is provided (Otago Witness 9 November 1888). In 1891 James Millan and William Scott applied to construct a mile-long water race in Reef Creek. This application was granted (Otago Witness 11 June 1891).
Figure 5. Extract from SO 6817 showing James Butler's application area for antimony prospecting at Reef Creek. The dam is indicated by the red circle.
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RESULTS
The archaeological survey carried out on 6 November 2012 identified several archaeological features associated with mining including a water race, mine adit and several areas of workings including tailings (Figure 6). Due to time constraints it was not possible to map each cluster of features in detail. Some of the sites are overgrown and some features may have been obscured by pine duff.
Figure 6. Approximate extent of archaeological features. The thin blue line is the water race.
The water race runs along the true right bank of Reef Creek approximately 15 m above the creek. It is square cut in cross section and averages approximately 800 mm in width. It is only in fair condition; at its southern end (towards Mullocky Stream) it has been cut by a farm track and in at least two places large slips have washed away sections of the race. The remainder of the race is filled with pine duff and is not well defined (Figure 7).
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Figure 7. Intact section of the water race (1 m ranging pole is in centre of race) looking upstream.
There is evidence of gold working on every flat area at each bend in the stream and in one section working in the stream bed has altered the water course. There is some evidence for sluicing but most of the archaeological remains consist of piles of tailings and tail races. There is also a 25 m length of stone revetting on the true right side of the stream in a narrow section just downstream of the confluence of Reef Creek and the unnamed tributary on the true left (Figure 8 and Figure 9). There is no obvious sign of the race at this point but the revetting appears to have been backfilled with fine gravel. A single piece of cut cow bone was found lying in the stream bed beside the northernmost set of tailings (Figure 10).
At the southern end of the workings on the true left side of the stream is a series of four large prospect holes and on the slope above is a large rocky cliff. It is possible that there were rockshelters used by the miners along the base of this cliff but vegetation and rockfall made it difficult to positively identify any shelters.
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Archaeological Assessment of Cpt 39, Mt Allan December 2012
Figure 8. Section of stone revetting (scale = 1 m).
Figure 9. Looking upstream along the line of the stone revetting.
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Figure 10. Piece of cut cow bone from stream bed.
The gold-working areas and water race have been recorded as a single archaeological site in ArchSite and have been assigned the number I44/556. This approach has been adopted because of the almost continuous evidence of gold working along the margins of the stream.
On the hillside on the true left side of the unnamed tributary approximately 100 m from the confluence is a mine drive. This has been recorded as I44/557. It is possible to follow the drive for about 10 m before it is blocked by rockfall. There is a subsidiary tunnel that runs down the hill which is approximately 800 mm high. There is a large terrace at the entrance to the adit with mullock heaps on the edge. A small cutting to the north of the entrance leads downhill to another terrace approximately 10 m downslope. A large depression is also visible that may be associated with the adit but equally could simply be a sinkhole Figure 11 to Figure 13). There is a large flat terrace at the level of the stream approximately 15 x 15 m and at the downstream end of this terrace the stream is constricted into a deep channel. It is possible that this is the dam that is shown on the 1879 and 1888 survey plans (Figure 4 and Figure 5).
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Figure 11. Entrance to the drive.
Figure 12. Interior of the drive. The side tunnel is just visible to the left.
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Figure 13. Sketch plan of the adit and associated terrace.
ASSESSMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL VALUES
The significance of an archaeological site can be assessed from a variety of perspectives. These include but are not restricted to the following (Gumbley 1995; Walton 1999, 2002):
1. Scientific potential The potential of the place to yield information about past environments, extinctions etc
2. Archaeological potential The potential of the site to contribute archaeological information about New Zealand’s past
3. Historical importance The importance of the site in terms of the history of New Zealand
4. Aesthetic significance The potential of the site to be enjoyed or appreciated for its visual or aesthetic values
5. Recreation/amenity/educational potential
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The potential of the site to be interpreted to the public and enjoyed or appreciated for its educational or recreational potential
6. Rarity The degree to which the site type is rare or common in New Zealand
7. Contextual value The degree to which the site contributes to an understanding of the wider context of an archaeological landscape
Our assessment of the site in terms of these criteria is summarised in Table 1 as follows:
Table 1. Summary of archaeological values. Criteria Value Scientific and The scientific and archaeological values of the sites that are situated archaeological within the assessment area are limited to the understanding of activity in the immediate area. While contributing to our knowledge of alluvial mining systems and associated activities, few of the affected sites add to the greater understanding of these site types in New Zealand and Otago. Therefore, their scientific and archaeological values are moderate. Historical The sites in the assessment area represent the remains of a self- contained alluvial mining landscape and associated activity sites. This landscape and the sites within it were previously unknown to archaeology therefore their discovery adds more to the overall understanding of mining in Otago. Although these sites are on the margin of a much more significant gold mining area (Hindon and further inland) they are some of the closest examples of nineteenth century goldmining to Dunedin. The historical value of the landscape and sites must be considered high. Aesthetic Although particular sites in the assessment area are in relatively good condition, they are generally in inaccessible areas which limits the possibility that the sites may be appreciated by a number of people. Their aesthetic values are therefore low. Amenity There is no public access to the archaeological sites located within this compartment. Their amenity values are therefore low. Rarity Water races are relatively rare in a national context; however, in Otago where water was often brought considerable distances for gold mining they are relatively common. Likewise, reservoirs, dams and gold working areas are also relatively common in Otago while being rare elsewhere. However, in the district around the Mt Allan Forest, few water races are known to exist. The same applies for evidence of goldworking. These are the first sites associated with mining to be recorded in this forest. Therefore, based on their rarity in the vicinity of the forest, the sites must be regarded as having a relatively high significance. Contextual The archaeological sites in the assessment area can be best understood as part of a complex of mining activity which includes prospecting efforts, water reticulation systems, and alluvial mining.
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Each of the sites contributes to the overall understanding of the landscape and therefore all must be regarded as significant. Condition The condition of the archaeological sites is variable. The water race has been damaged by track cutting and fencing and land movement. The other archaeological features are in much better condition.
Summary of Values Typically, the earliest gold working activity was on river beaches and the lowest terraces but miners moved higher very quickly. Water races were constructed to provide more water to remove the greater overburden from these higher terraces (Hamel 2001: 129).
The Reef Creek workings are all largely confined to the stream bed or to the terraces immediately adjacent to the stream, with the exception of the mine drive. Some of these may date to the early 1860s when miners were concentrating on the easily-won gold. The limited evidence of ground-sluicing activities may be associated with the construction of the water race. If this is the race described in the Otago Witness then we can confidently date it to at least 1891. The age of the drive is less certain. The historical evidence seems to suggest that there was hard rock prospecting occurring in the area in the 1870s but to date we have not found any specific information about the Reef Creek operations.
Considering all of the perspectives above it is concluded that the archaeological sites in the Mt Allan Forest must be regarded as having a relatively high collective value. The amenity and aesthetic values are reduced by the relatively inaccessible nature of many of the sites while the nature of the sites reduces their scientific/archaeological value. However, the previously unknown alluvial mining landscape and the sites within it have high historical, rarity and contextual value particularly within the Mt Allan district.
ASSESSMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EFFECTS
The effects of forest harvesting on archaeological sites are highly variable and depend to a large extent on two factors, environment and harvest technology. The environment at Mt Allan Forest contains steep-sided gullies, although the land on the true right of Reef Creek is relatively gently sloping, and this topography dictates the harvest technology. In this instance harvesting will probably be carried out using a combination of ground-based and hauler operations. Nearly all of the archaeological features are located near the stream and therefore the effect of any works on the ridges of the forest will be negligible. The proposed road will be located 20 m above the water race and provided spoil from the road is disposed of uphill there should be no effects on the race from road construction.
Although some of the archaeological features are located within manuka or scrub, other features have pine trees planted through them. In some instances (on the true
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right) it should be possible to lift the trees off the sites using a tractor/excavator but where hauling is unavoidable there may be some damage as trees are dragged across features. The effect of harvesting can be minimised by felling trees away from the archaeological features and careful tail-hold placement. There will inevitably be some damage to the water race. This can be minimised by reducing the number of places where logs have to be dragged across the race and by targeting crossing points to those where the race is already damaged.
Figure 14. Proposed hauler pad locations. The heavy blue line is the proposed new road.
It is anticipated that where crossings have to be made over the water race for removal of felled trees, careful hauler pad positioning and the placement of logs and slash in the races should minimise any damage.
CONCLUSION
The archaeological features in Reef Creek were previously unknown and some may date to the very earliest gold mining activity in the Dunedin vicinity. Damage to these features should be able to be mitigated through careful harvesting of the trees. Because of the historical significance of these features they should be mapped in detail by suitably qualified archaeologists to ensure that a permanent record is made of them before they are affected by the harvesting operations.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1 That Wenita Forest Products applies for an archaeological authority from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust under s12 of the Historic Places Act.
Recommendation 2 That the identified archaeological sites be mapped by a qualified archaeologist prior to the commencement of harvesting.
Recommendation 3 That the locations of hauler pads and anchor points be carefully planned so as to minimise damage to the water race and other sites through dragging of trees across them.
Recommendation 4 That the harvest crew receive training in the recognition of archaeological sites and how to avoid or reduce damage to them.
Recommendation 5 That all archaeological sites that lie within the forest are marked with dazzle paint or hazard tape a prior to the commencement of harvesting.
Recommendation 6 That wherever possible the logs should be bridled into crossing corridors to minimise the effects on the water race.
Recommendation 7 That a protocol be put in place to provide for an appropriate response if an unrecorded archaeological site is encountered during forestry operations.
Recommendation 8 That a post-harvest inspection be carried out by a suitably qualified archaeologist to assess the degree of damage and survival of the water races and other features.
Recommendation 9 That an appropriate buffer (minimum of 3 m) is left around sites during replanting.
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REFERENCES
Appendices to the Journal of the House of Representatives.
Gumbley, W., 1995. Guidelines for the provision of archaeological information and assessment for authority applications under section 11 or 12 of the Historic Places Act 1993. Archaeology in New Zealand 38(2): 100-105.
Hamel, J., 2001. The Archaeology of Otago. Wellington: Department of Conservation.
Otago Witness.
Shaw, M. and Farrant, E. 1949. The Taieri Plain: Tales of the Years that are Gone. Otago Centennial Publications.
Thompson, H. 1949. East of the Rock and Pillar: A history of the Strath Taieri and Macraes Districts. Otago Centennial Publications.
Walton, T., 1999. Assessing the archaeological values of Historic Places: procedures, methods and field techniques. Science & Research Internal Report No. 167. Department of Conservation, Wellington.
Walton, T., 2002. Assessing archaeological value. Archaeology in New Zealand 45(3): 220-236.
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Appendix One Site Record Forms
Pending
Southern Pacific Archaeological Research