Archaeology is all about the discovery, recovery and interpretation of the surviving evidence of past human activity in its context in or above the ground. Archaeological sites are distinguished from other heritage sites due to the fact that they tend to be the relics and ruins of our past. They may be on land, in water, or in the coastal marine area.
The Historic Places Act 1993 defines an archaeological site as a place associated with pre-1900 human activity, where there may be evidence relating to the history of New Zealand. This includes pre-1900 buildings and other structures.The Act makes it unlawful for any person to destroy, damage or modify the whole or any part of an archaeological site without the prior authority of Heritage New Zealand.
The Canterbury Earthquakes have resulted in an unprecedented number of building demolitions, many of which are located in the Christchurch central business district which is a known area of pre-1900 occupation. Under a streamlined process implemented by the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2011, archaeological authorities have been granted for a great number of building demolitions within Christchurch and Canterbury.
Reports on this archaeological monitoring are available in Heritage New Zealand's Earthquake Collection. The UC CEISMIC programme are collaborating with Heritage New Zealand to ensure all the content is ready for web publication. Where necessary, we have added attributions to images and removed sensitive information.
Original items can be requested from Heritage New Zealand's Archaeological Reports Digital Library.