Archaeological Site Survey on Ponui Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
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TANK 25, 1979 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SURVEY ON PONUI ISLAND, HAURAKI GULF, NEW ZEALAND by Peter J. Matthews 3 Sadgrove Terrace, Mount Albert, Auckland 3 SUMMARY Thirty four archaeological sites were recorded on Ponui Island in August 1978. These include pits, terraces, middens (10), pa (3) and an oven. Thirty three of these sites have not been previously recorded, bringing to sixty six the number of sites now known on Ponui. The present survey indicates that there is a considerable density of sites on the island. In this respect the island is similar to others in the Hauraki Gulf. INTRODUCTION During the week of Saturday, August 26, to Friday, September 1, 1978, descriptions were made of archaeological sites found on the western arm of Ponui Island, between Oranga Bay and Green Bay, and inland to the highest point (170m A.S.L.) on the island. The survey covered about 397 hectares, a fifth of the islands' total area of 1770 hectares (Fig. 1). Ponui Island is the most eastern of the Inner Gulf islands, and lies between Waiheke Island and the mainland. The coastal settlement of Kawakawa is 5.4km away on the mainland coast while Waiheke I. is a little over 1km to the northwest. From north to south the island is 8km long and at Kauri Point is 3.7km across. The topography is generally hilly, rolling in parts. Most of Ponui Island has been cleared for livestock farming, but there are remnants of kauri (Agathis australis) and broadleaf forest. These rem• nants are mainly west and south of the trig. Raupo (Typha orientalis) swamp is found in some valleys. The coast provides a rich variety of shore types with sand or shingle beaches, tidal mudflats and rocky shores. PREVIOUS WORK In 1963, Davidson recorded 30 sites (N43/1-30) from coastal areas around the southern end of Ponui. Between 1956 and 1962 a series of small excavations were undertaken on a large midden site (N43/1) at Motunau Bay, southern Ponui (Nicholls 1963, 1964; Fisher 1964). A small excavation was also carried out at Galatea Bay (Fig. 1) on a beach stream midden (N43/33) in April 1965 (Terrell 1966, 1967; Shawcross 1967; Moore & Tiller 1975; Davidson 1978). 23 There are unpublished records of two further sites: N43/34, a pit, midden and possible terrace on a ridge above Galatea Bay, and N43/373, a beach midden site in the first bay north of Galatea Bay. Several artefacts from various parts of the island are in the Chamberlins' possession. Among many stone adzes is one of well finished nephrite. There are also 2 wooden digging sticks from the swamp behind Oranga Bay (Fig. 1). ANNOTATED FIST OF SITES Site record numbers (e.g. N43/629) are those of the New Zealand Archaeological Association Record File. More detailed records are in the NZAA File, held at the Auckland Institute and Museum. Grid references (e.g. 674592) refer to the map NZMS 1, Sheet N43, Ponui, 3rd edition, 1975. Site distribution is shown in Fig. 1. N43/30 (664592) PA, (Fig. 5), Kauri Point, has single trench at inland end, with path leading up to modified knoll on higher south side of point. At the summit is a small cut-in area, possibly a hearth. Below is an unusual square pit (4x4xlm). Knoll is marked 196' (60m) on NZMS map. Length of site is approximately 200m. This site was recorded in 1963 by Davidson, who saw the trench from the sea. N43/629 (674592) OVEN or fire pit, exposed in yellow-clay road cutting below a 30cm layer of topsoil. It is 60cm deep, 30cm wide. Contains char• coal. A few pieces of shell, charcoal and burnt branch are exposed nearby. N43/630 (675594) PIT, on ridge top at junction of ridges. N43/631 (674597) PITS and TERRACE, on Poroaki Bay headland. Two pits (3.4 x 1.6m and 4.4 x 2m) near end of point. Pits beside cliff at upper, western edge of sloping area on top of headland. Beyond pits a ter• race runs beside cliff several metres to base of knoll at tip of headland. Knoll has small flat summit. N43/632 (672593) MIDDEN, in sea-eroded natural bench along southern half of beach. Also in platform in small gully, several metres above beach at south end. N43/633 (673591) MIDDEN, small surface patch of shell above road cutting. N43/634 (672591) PITS, MIDDEN and TERRACES about oval knoll (45 x 18m) with flat top (6m diameter). Small cut in areas (e.g. 3 x 2m, 4 x 2.6m) may be terraces or filled-in pits. Patch of midden on south side of knoll contains cockle (Chione stutchburyi) and pipi (Paphies australe). Elevation is marked 211' (64m) on the NZMS map. N43/635 (670591) PITS and TERRACES, about flat-topped ridge knoll. A number of small terraces or pits are cut into slope. Leading inland along ridge from knoll is a line of four slight depressions, probably pits. N43/636 (673585) PITS and MIDDEN, about flat-topped ridge knoll. Thick midden exposed at surface. Site is one of series of similar sites on ridge down to point at south end of Apuapu Bay. N43/637 (668585) PITS, MIDDEN and TERRACES, on point at south end of Apuapu Bay. At end of point are two small terraces with a few pieces of shell on scarp between. A level area on south side of point has slight depressions suggesting pits. Midden exposed at seaward 25 >4<\ \ 647 ^ 648 ^ v\ I i A, o * o »— \ / <\ 650 N 653 N v \ \J_Li_L Fig. 2. Sketch plan of five pit sites (N43/647, 648, 650. 653 & 656), all to the 26 7/ ROCK 651 /' OUTCROP ROAD 4 i ; "mil n i n \ terraced 10 m 1"side-ridg e 3. Sketch plan of ridge site N4.V65I, above Green Bay. edge of the area. N43/638 (670587) MIDDEN, in natural bench behind Apuapu Bay. Exposed by sea erosion. N43/639 (674588) PITS, in flat area (40 \ 9m) at lop of long knoll on ridge, largest pit (3 x 1.6 x 0.5m) is in centre of area. Slope below east side of ridge is very sleep. N43/640 (674589) PITS and MIDDEN, about six pits in flat top area of ridge knoll (typical example: 3 x 1.5m). Midden exposed at side of knoll. N43/641 (675586) PITS, two (each 2 x 1 m). at edge of almost-level area (15 x 8m) on small ridge knoll. Slope below pits drops sharply into valley inland. N43/642 (673583) MIDDEN, at seaward edge of level area, several metres above beach. N43/643 (674581) MIDDEN, scattered beside stream some metres back from beach. N43/644 (674577) MIDDEN and TERRACES, small flat-topped ridge knoll has mid• den at edge of top area. Below seaward side are two large platform terraces. N43/645 (676584) PITS and TERRACE, two small pits (each 2m long) on ridge leading up to knoll. Terrace (3 \ 2.5m) is at side of knoll by summit. N43/646 (681588) PIT, (1 x 1 m), at edge of steep slope into valley, in fairly level area. N43 '647 (680588) PITS, (Fig. 2), two on flat-topped ridge knoll, lying parallel across summit (each 2.5 x 1.5m). N43/648 (679590) PITS, (Fig. 2), two on flat-topped ridge knoll, lying parallel across summit (each 2 x 3 x 1.5m). N43/649 (682592) PIT, sunk in top of knoll ( 3 x 2 x 0.5m) with no flat area about it. N43/650 (689587) PITS and TERRACES, several pits on slight slope at high part of ridge, marked 530' (162m) on NZMS map. Ridge south, downhill, features a large platform terrace (10 x 8m). Below this is a ridge knoll with two pits (each 3 x 1.5m) set parallel in summit (Fig. 2). Further downhill is a small terrace, 3m long. N43/651 (684573) PIT, MIDDEN and TERRACES, (Fig. 3), on long knoll (60m) marked on NZMS map as 390' (119m). Ground is very stony but has been levelled except for two weathered greywacke outcrops. A trace of shell midden is exposed in road cutting. There is one pit (2 x lm) and a large shallow cut-in terrace (7 x 4.5m). Side-ridge south below site is terraced. 27 . • W A i A * 4 \ 10m 4. Sketch plan of summit platform of N43/654, a ridge peak pa. N43/652 (677575) MIDDEN, exposed at top of road-cutting by Green Bay beach. Ground above cutting is fairly level. N43/653 (691591) PITS and TERRACE, (Fig. 2), three pits and a small cut-in terrace (all 2 x 1m) at top of promontory at end of side-ridge. N43/654 (684587) PA, on prominent peak at intersection of ridges. Numerous short terraces on steep sides of knob, often pitted. Largest pit (7 x 5 x 1.6m) is directly below northwest, seaward edge of summit. Sum• mit platform is divided into three flat areas and has no pits (Fig. 4). Southeast side of peak has midden. Northeast side lacks features and slopes steeply into valley above Oranga Bay. Slope below southeast, inland side of peak also steep. Site is marked as 'Old Pa' on the 1944 Lands and Survey map of Ponui. A farm road encircles the site. N43/656 (683589) PIT, (Fig. 2), on small flattened spur by ridge. The pit is 6 x 3.5 x Im. N43/657 (674590) PA, (Fig. 6), on small peak at intersection of ridges. Path spirals up to summit area, which has nine pits and eight cut-in terraces.