Archaeological Assessment of Scroggs Hill Forest

Transcription

1 Archaeological Assessment of Scroggs Hill Forest Prepared for Fulton Hogan Limited by Chris Jacomb and Emma Brooks Southern Pacific Archaeological Research August 2009

2 CONTENTS Introduction and Background... 1 Legislative Environment... 1 Scope of Works... 3 Setting... 3 Historical Background... 4 Methodology... 5 Results... 6 Assessment of Significance... 9 Assessment of Effects... 9 Discussion... 9 Conclusions Recommendations References Appendix One - Site Record Forms... 12

3 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Fulton Hogan wishes to harvest trees in three of its Otago forests (Scroggs Hill, Moeraki Bush and Nugget Stream) in the next few years (see Fig. 1). No sites are recorded in the files of the New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Recording Scheme in these forests; however, this is not surprising since none of these forests had been surveyed previously for the presence of archaeological sites. Any modification to archaeological sites as defined under the Historic Places Act 1993 (see below) requires an authority to be obtained from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust beforehand. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research was commissioned by Eion Mills of Fulton Hogan to undertake an archaeological assessment of each of the above forests to identify any archaeological sites and to assess the potential effects of the forest harvest and make recommendations in respect of mitigation or avoidance. Site surveys were undertaken between 22 and 24 June A small number of archaeological sites were recorded in each of the three forests. An archaeological authority will therefore be required for each of these forests before any work is carried out that has the potential to affect the sites. This report contains the assessment of the Scroggs Hill Forest. LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT There are two main pieces of legislation in New Zealand that regulate work that affects archaeological sites. These are the Historic Places Act 1993 (HPA) and the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). HPA The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) administers the HPA. The HPA contains a consent (authority) process for any work affecting archaeological sites, 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) Southern Pacific Archaeological Research

4 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 now defined in the RMA (by RMA Amendment Act 2003). Historic heritage is defined by the RMA (s.2) as follows: Historic heritage: (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 Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 2

5 and promoting the protection of heritage values in accordance with conservation principles (NZHPT 2004). SCOPE OF WORKS The scope of works was to carry out an archaeological survey of the three forests and to provide an assessment of any sites located within the forests in order to evaluate their significance and assess the potential effects of the proposed tree harvesting. Figure 1. Location of Scroggs Hill, Moeraki Bush and Nugget Stream Forests. SETTING The Scroggs Hill forest is located in the coastal hills approximately 3 km west of Brighton (Fig. 1). The general landscape setting is grazed and forested hills with lifestyle blocks and small forestry blocks. The land lies between about 40 and 160 m ASL and includes gently rolling ridge tops dissected by very steep gullies. There are three archaeological sites recorded within about 5 km of the site including a moa-hunting aged site at Brighton (I44/5), an oven near Ocean View (I44/205) and an oven 1.5 km SW of the forest (I45/206). Note, however, that this almost certainly underestimates the number of sites present since little of this area has been systematically surveyed for archaeological sites. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 3

6 Figure 2. Scroggs Hill Forest showing forest boundary and tree planting regime (Fulton Hogan). HISTORICAL BACKGROUND No specific history of the Scroggs Hill Forest could be located. Several ovens have been recorded in the general vicinity which shows that there was at least some Maori use of the area. The presence of an Archaic site at Brighton demonstrates that Maori occupation of this coast dates back to the earliest decades of Polynesian settlement in New Zealand. The earliest European explorers described a Maori village at the Taieri Ferry, near Henley, which comprised two or three decent huts made of totara bark, and as many raised stages for potato stores (Shaw and Farrant 1949: 4). 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 hills Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 4

7 between the Taieri Plain and the sea were farmed from a very early phase of European settlement in Otago. Before the swampy Plain was drained, farming activity focused on the hills between Dunedin and the Taieri Ferry the hills in which both Scroggs Hill and Moeraki Bush Forests are situated. The Saddle Hill area possibly including Scroggs Hill was grazed by Archibald Anderson in 1847, a year before the first official European settlers arrived in Otago. METHODOLOGY Fulton Hogan has eight plantation forests that are due for harvest in the next few years. Their likelihood of containing archaeological sites is variable; some are located near areas of known 19thcentury activity such as gold mining while others have little documentary evidence of 19th century activity. Furthermore, all of the forests are now in close to harvest and have mature trees, often with dense undergrowth which affects site visibility. Each forest is being investigated using a threestage approach. The first is an examination of historical maps, plans and literature (county histories etc) to search for any historical evidence of use of the area either prehistorically or during the historic period (the time since European contact). The second is an examination of aerial photographs for any visual evidence of features such as roads, water races, dams and house sites. The third is a ground inspection. The ground inspection is affected to various different degrees by vegetation cover. In some places it is almost impossible to carry out a ground inspection because of poor ground visibility. In those cases the ground inspection was limited to ground-truthing of sites or features indicated during examination of aerial photographs or other data. At Scroggs Hill ground visibility was uniformly excellent and the whole of the forest was reasonably well covered by the ground survey. Figure 3. Scroggs Hill Forest showing ground visibility. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 5

8 Scroggs Hill Archaeological Assessment August 2009 RESULTS Two places were found in Scroggs Hill Forest that contained evidence of human activity. The first was a bulldozed heap of corrugated iron and boards indicative of a former building, in an area that also included exotic plantings including young wilding macrocarpa trees. These were associated with a driveway that leads off Bush Reserve Rd (Fig. 4) in an area that was excluded from planting by Fulton Hogan (Fig. 5). There was no clear evidence that this is an archaeological site as defined by the HPA but it is worth noting for Fulton Hogan s long term management. The brand mark ( British Crown ) was visible on one of the sheets of corrugated iron (see Fig. 7) and this could be used to determine the age band during which the iron was manufactured; however, this would not prove a definitive age of the building since roofing iron was often recycled for use in later buildings. This site is not part of the harvest zone and is only included in this report for Fulton Hogan s management information. Until further research is done on the site to determine its age, condition and significance it should be excluded from further planting. The second site discovered is a short (c.60 m) length of benching in the slope of one of the ridges in the southern part of the forest (Fig. 5, 8). Its original form had been modified either by ploughing before the land was planted in trees or during pre-planting ground preparation works. It has the profile of a ploughed water race but does not follow the contour so must be something else. Three likely interpretations are (1) a bulldozed fenceline, (2) an eroded earth wall or sod fence, (3) a bridle path. There is so little of this feature remaining that it is probably not worth protecting, although to do so would be relatively easy. Figure 4. Approximate boundary of Scroggs Hill Forest on 1:50,000 topo map. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 6

9 Figure 5. Aerial photo showing location of archaeological evidence found at Scroggs Hill Forest. The corrugated iron was in an area planted in young macrocarpa trees and is not part of the harvest zone. It appeared to be the remains of a building that had been bulldozed into a heap. The area was too overgrown for a detailed examination. The old fence line is a ~30 m earthwork alignment that may be an old bulldozed fence line, a benched track or (less likely) the remains of a sod fence. Figure 6. Bulldozed remains of building in Scroggs Hill Forest. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 7

10 Figure 7. Detail of brand mark on corrugated iron sheet (inner circle, image of crown; middle circle, BRITISH CROWN ; outer circle, MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN ). Figure 8. Earthwork alignment in Scroggs Hill Forest. Site record forms have been completed for these sites and are attached (Appendix 1). Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 8

11 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE This section assesses the significance of the two sites in a local, regional and national context. The significance is assessed in terms of each site s archaeological values and their potential through investigation by archaeological methods to provide evidence relating to the history of New Zealand (HPA section 2). 1. Remains of corrugated iron building. The corrugated iron remains do not have a high level of significance in themselves, apart from the dating possibilities outlined above. The main values that may remain (assuming they survived the bulldozing) are below the surface. These would typically include such things as post-hole patterns of building foundations, rubbish holes and latrine holes. If the corrugated iron remains date to the 19th century, then it is possible that they relate to an early homestead. If so, then the subsurface remains have the potential to be of moderate significance in relation to questions of early small-holding pastoral settlement of Otago, and of New Zealand in general. 2. Earthwork alignment. The earthwork alignment, the function of which is unknown, is of relatively low significance on the basis of our current understanding. If it is not possible to design a harvest plan that avoids damage to this feature then it would be useful to excavate a small trench across it to determine its function. If it turns out to be a bridle path or sod wall then it would have some (medium) significance as such sites are relatively rare in the archaeological record near Dunedin. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS This section assesses the effects of the proposal on the archaeological values outlined above. 1. Remains of corrugated iron building. This site does not have any plantation trees in its near vicinity and will not be affected by the harvest. Note, however, that any roading required for harvest would have the potential to affect the site. Any future ground preparation or other works associated with replanting the Scroggs Hill Forest could also affect the site. 2. Earthwork alignment. This site is located in part of the plantation forest and has the potential to be affected by the harvest. Any roading required for harvest would also have the potential to affect the site. If care is not taken during harvest then it is very likely that the site would be completely destroyed during the harvest, or later during any future ground preparation or other works associated with replanting the Scroggs Hill Forest. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 9

12 DISCUSSION Because of the excellent ground visibility we can be confident that the survey undertaken for this project has very good coverage of the area of land under consideration. Even so, only one site was found that has the potential to be affected by harvest: the earthwork alignment. The corrugated iron and any associated subsurface deposits can be easily avoided during any necessary road construction. CONCLUSIONS Both of the sites identified in the field should be easy to avoid during the harvest process and by any road construction. In the unlikely event that it is impossible to design a harvest plan for this forest, then appropriate mitigation would be to investigate both sites archaeologically. The appropriate level of investigation for the earthwork alignment would be to hand-excavate a trench across the feature. The possible site associated with the pile of corrugated iron is more problematic, for two reasons. The first is that we do not know for certain that it is pre-1900 in age, and the second is that we do not know for certain that there are any subsurface archaeological deposits present. The best solution in both cases is to design the harvest plan so as to avoid the sites. It should be possible to design a harvest plan that will provide for the minimum possible damage. An accidental discovery guideline will provide for any undiscovered sites that may be encountered during the harvest. Although the known sites can probably be almost entirely avoided an archaeological authority will still be required under the Historic Places Act to provide for any accidental damage to either those sites or any undiscovered ones. RECOMMENDATIONS We make the following recommendations: That Fulton Hogan apply to the NZHPT for an archaeological authority under s12 of the HPA. That a harvest plan is designed that avoids damage to the two sites. That the earthwork alignment and the area in the immediate vicinity of the bulldozed building be clearly marked with danger tape or dazzle paint during harvest to ensure that contractors are aware of their location. That all contractors receive training in the recognition of archaeological sites and in the appropriate response if an archaeological site is encountered during works. That trees be felled away from the earthwork alignment and the site associated with the corrugated iron. That a five metre buffer be provided around all archaeological sites for replanting. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 10

13 REFERENCES Gumbley, W Guidelines for the provision of archaeological information and assessment for authority applications under section 11 or 12 of the Historic Places Act Archaeology in New Zealand 38(2): NZHPT, Heritage Management Guidelines for Resource Management Practitioners. New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Shaw, M.S. and Farrant, E.D The Taieri Plain. Tales of the Years that are Gone. Otago Centennial Historical Publications. Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 11

14 APPENDIX ONE - SITE RECORD FORMS Southern Pacific Archaeological Research 12

15 NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SITE RECORD FORM (NZMS260) NZMS 260 map number I44 NZMS 260 map name NZMS 260 map edition Grid Reference NZAA METRIC SITE NUMBER DATE VISITED 22 June 2009 SITE TYPE Historic SITE NAME: MAORI OTHER Easting Northing (non-differential GPS) 1. Aids to relocation of site (attach a sketch map) Site is situated at the end of an overgrown driveway that exits Bush Reserve Rd, Allanton, at The only visible signs are a bulldozed pile of corrugated iron and some exotic plantings. See attached map, aerial and photos. 2. State of site and possible future damage The state of the site is unknown. It has been affected by bulldozing but it is possible that some subsurface material remains intact (e.g. foundation post holes, rubbish pits, latrines. There is some potential for damage from plantation forestry since the site is within a plantation. However, the plantation owners are aware of the site and are taking it into account in their management of the forest. 3. Description of site (Supply full details, history, local environment, references, sketches, etc. If extra sheets are attached, include a summary here) Little is known about the history of the site. There is a history of pastoral small-holding in the hills between Allanton and the sea that goes back to the earliest days of European settlement in Otago. The site is in steep hill country that is now covered in pine trees. The site is visible as a bulldozed pile of corrugated iron in an unplanted area of Scroggs Hill Forest. It is associated with exotic plantings of garden and hedge species and may be the remains of an early homestead. Its age has not been determined, however, and it is possible that it dates to no earlier than the mid 20th century. The area where the corrugated iron was found is too overgrown for a drawing to be made. 4. Owner Fulton Hogan Address 11 Main Rd Fairfield 5. Nature of information (hearsay, brief or extended visit, etc.) Photographs (reference numbers and where they are held) Aerial photographs (reference numbers and clarity of site) 6. Reported by Chris Jacomb Address Dept of Anthropology University of Otago Tenant/Manager Address Brief visit See site description form See site description form Filekeeper Date 7. Key words 8. New Zealand Register of Archaeological Sites (for office use) NZHPT Site Field Code Latitude S Type of site Local environment today Land classification Longitude E Present condition & future danger of destruction Security code Local body

16 NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SITE RECORD FORM (NZMS260) NZAA METRIC SITE NUMBER DATE VISITED 22 June 2009 SITE TYPE Historic building SITE NAME: MAORI OTHER NZMS 260 map number NZMS 260 map name NZMS 260 map edition I44 Grid Reference Easting Northing Figure 1. Location of Scroggs Hill Forest. Figure 2. Site location. site

17 NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SITE RECORD FORM (NZMS260) NZMS 260 map number I44 NZMS 260 map name NZMS 260 map edition NZAA METRIC SITE NUMBER DATE VISITED 22 June 2009 SITE TYPE Historic SITE NAME: MAORI OTHER Grid Reference Easting Northing Figure 3. Remains of bulldozed building. Figure 4. Detail showing brand on corrugated iron ("British Crown. Made in Great Britain".

18 NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SITE RECORD FORM (NZMS260) NZMS 260 map number I44 NZMS 260 map name NZMS 260 map edition Grid Reference NZAA METRIC SITE NUMBER DATE VISITED 22 June 2009 SITE TYPE Historic SITE NAME: MAORI OTHER Easting Northing (non-differential GPS) 1. Aids to relocation of site (attach a sketch map) Site is situated in the southern part of Scroggs Hill forest and is best approached by leaving Bush Reserve Rd at GR and walking along an old farm track for approx. 200 m. The site is on the SW-facing slope of the leading ridge. See attached map, aerial and photos. 2. State of site and possible future damage The state of the site is unknown, largely because its function is unknown. It has almost certainly been affected by bulldozing, if not by cultivation associated with the earlier grazing. There is some potential for damage from plantation forestry since the site is within a plantation; however, the plantation owners are taking active steps to avoid damaginng the site. 3. Description of site (Supply full details, history, local environment, references, sketches, etc. If extra sheets are attached, include a summary here) Little is known about the history of the site. There is a history of pastoral small-holding in the hills between Allanton and the sea that goes back to the earliest days of European settlement in Otago. The site is in steep hill country that is now covered in pine trees. It was earlier used for grazing. The site itself is visible as a benched earthwork in the form of a pack track or bridle path. However, it could equally be a bulldozed fence line or an earth wall such as a sod fence. The exact function cannot be determined without excavation. 4. Owner Fulton Hogan Address 11 Main Rd Fairfield 5. Nature of information (hearsay, brief or extended visit, etc.) Photographs (reference numbers and where they are held) Aerial photographs (reference numbers and clarity of site) 6. Reported by Chris Jacomb Address Dept of Anthropology University of Otago Tenant/Manager Address Brief visit See site description form See site description form Filekeeper Date 7. Key words 8. New Zealand Register of Archaeological Sites (for office use) NZHPT Site Field Code Latitude S Type of site Local environment today Land classification Longitude E Present condition & future danger of destruction Security code Local body

19 NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SITE RECORD FORM (NZMS260) NZAA METRIC SITE NUMBER DATE VISITED 22 June 2009 SITE TYPE Historic SITE NAME: MAORI OTHER NZMS 260 map number NZMS 260 map name NZMS 260 map edition I44 Grid Reference Easting Northing Figure 1. Location of Scroggs Hill Forest. Figure 2. Site location ("old fence line?"). (non-differential GPS)

20 NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SITE RECORD FORM (NZMS260) NZMS 260 map number I44 NZMS 260 map name NZMS 260 map edition Grid Reference NZAA METRIC SITE NUMBER DATE VISITED 22 June 2009 SITE TYPE Historic SITE NAME: MAORI OTHER Easting Northing (non-differential GPS) Figure 3. Earthwork alignment photographed towards SE.