ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SURVEY ON PONUI ISLAND, HAURAKI GULF, NEW ZEALAND. by Peter J. Matthews SUMMARY

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1 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 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 remnants 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

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3 There are unpublished records of two further sites: N43/34, a pit, midden and possible terrace on a ridge above Galatea Bay, and N43/373, a beach midden site in the first bay north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 ) refer to the map NZMS 1, Sheet N43, Ponui, 3rd edition, Site distribution is shown in Fig. 1. N43/30 (664592) N43/629 (674592) N43/630 (675594) N43/631 (674597) N43/632 (672593) N43/633 (673591) N43/634 (672591) N43/635 (670591) N43/636 (673585) N43/637 (668585) 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. OVEN or fire pit, exposed in yellow-clay road cutting below a 30cm layer of topsoil. It is 60cm deep, 30cm wide. Contains charcoal. A few pieces of shell, charcoal and burnt branch are exposed nearby. PIT, on ridge top at junction of ridges. 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 terrace runs beside cliff several metres to base of knoll at tip of headland. Knoll has small flat summit. MIDDEN, in sea-eroded natural bench along southern half of beach. Also in platform in small gully, several metres above beach at south end. MIDDEN, small surface patch of shell above road cutting. 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. 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. 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. 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 >4<\ \ 647 ^ 648 ^ o * I i v\ A, \ 650 N o» / <\ 653 N v \ \J_Li_L Fig. 2. Sketch plan of five pit sites (N43/647, 648, & 656), all to the 26

5 7/ ROCK /' OUTCROP ROAD 4 i ; 651 "mil n i n 10 m 1" terraced side-ridge \ N43/638 N43/ Sketch plan of (670587) (674588) N43/640 (674589) N43/641 (675586) N43/642 (673583) N43/643 N43/644 N43/645 N43/646 N43 '647 N43/648 N43/649 N43/650 N43/651 (674581) (674577) (676584) (681588) (680588) (679590) (682592) (689587) (684573) ridge site N4.V65I, above Green Bay. edge of the area. MIDDEN, in natural bench behind Apuapu Bay. Exposed by sea erosion. 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. 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. 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. MIDDEN, at seaward edge of level area, several metres above beach. MIDDEN, scattered beside stream some metres back from beach. MIDDEN and TERRACES, small flat-topped ridge knoll has midden at edge of top area. Below seaward side are two large platform terraces. 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. PIT, (1 x 1 m), at edge of steep slope into valley, in fairly level area. PITS, (Fig. 2), two on flat-topped ridge knoll, lying parallel across summit (each 2.5 x 1.5m). PITS, (Fig. 2), two on flat-topped ridge knoll, lying parallel across summit (each 2 x 3 x 1.5m). PIT, sunk in top of knoll ( 3 x 2 x 0.5m) with no flat area about it. 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. 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

6 . W A i A * 4 \ 10m 4. Sketch plan of summit platform of N43/654, a ridge peak pa. N43/652 (677575) N43/653 (691591) N43/654 (684587) N43/656 (683589) N43/657 (674590) N43/658 (677589) N43/659 (685593) MIDDEN, exposed at top of road-cutting by Green Bay beach. Ground above cutting is fairly level. 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. 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. Summit 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. PIT, (Fig. 2), on small flattened spur by ridge. The pit is 6 x 3.5 x Im. 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. Path around west corner has low bank built up on outer side. Midden contains mostly cockle and pipi. Also seen were a volute (Alcithoe sp.) and a scallop (Pectennovaezelandiae). To the northeast, a series of short terraces lead from the pa down to a flattened ridge ending as a promontory above a stream. The top of this promontory has an indefinite pit depression. The slope down to the stream has patches of midden, and near its base are a few small terraces. MIDDEN, on low ground about houses furthest back Poroaki Bay beach. Midden contains shell, broken crockery and glass. Swampy area between site and beach is now mostly drained (Fig. 1). MIDDEN, Oranga Bay, exposed along top of road-cutting close 28

7 30 50 m Fig. 5. Sketch plan of headland pa N43/30, on Kauri Point. N43/660 (684593) N43/661 (678584) N43/662 (692584) behind southern stretch of beach. Midden continues to above south side of swamp. Ground above road and swamp is level but grades into steep slopes. MIDDEN, Oranga Bay, in low sea-eroded bank along southern half of beach. Mainly cockle. PIT, MIDDEN and TERRACES, (Fig. 7), a ridge knoll site. Extends approximately 60m east-west along ridge. One pit (2.1 x 1.1 x 0.5m) and three small cut-in terraces present. Knoll has flattened summit. Midden is scattered along the site. Slopes steep on both sides of ridge. A farm road on the ridge may have destroyed much of the site. Elevation a little over 92m. MIDDEN, inland under forest, near a stream. Previously recorded sites (Davidson, 1963) in Figure 1. N43/20 N43/21 N43/22 N43/23 N43/24 N43/25 (680567) (682568) (682572) (678575) (678574) (674575) PA, on southern headland of Green Bay. Natural defences on all sides except landward end with ditch defence. Interior of pa divided into three separately defendable units by a modified natural saddle and a ditch. Eleven pits confined to flat area of unit at landward end of site. Considerable midden on sides of site. TERRACES, a fairly extensive series of shallow terraces on a small eminence; elevation about 76m. PITS, a series of shallow pits on a ridge top. PIT and MIDDEN, pit on tiny bluff above bend in stream. Has what appears to be a drain in front of it. Midden is scattered on bank below pit. MIDDEN, in fairly large area of gentle slope behind beach. PA, on narrow headland at northern end of Green Bay. Landward end is defended by a transverse ditch and scarp. Seaward end divided from a narrow razor-backed ridge by natural saddle strengthened with a ditch. Sides of headland precipitous. Site has pits, and a low bank on the cliff edge may be a windbreak. 29

8 Fig. 6. Sketch plan of ridge peak pa N43/657, above Kauri Point. A low bank runs alongside the path at the western corner. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES Pa Defended sites. The surface evidence for these is usually provided by earthwork fortifications such as ditches, banks, scarps and terraces. They 30

9 are often situated in places where the natural topography provides defence. Occasionally, despite the absence of obviously defensive earthworks (e.g. site N43/654), the strength of the natural defences is evidence for a pa (Diamond 1963). There are five pa sites in the area surveyed (Fig. 1). These can be classified according to their topographic position (Golson & Green 1958) as two ridge peak and three coastal headland pa. The two ridge peak pa (N43/654, 657) are quite dissimilar. N43/654 has good natural defences on all sides, but no obviously defensive earthworks. Some may have been obliterated by the farm road encircling the peak. The summit is a flat platform with its area partitioned by a low artificial bank (Fig. 4). N43/657 is a smaller site on a smaller peak (Fig. 6). A low defensive bank is placed above the easiest slope. The summit is reached by a path which follows one turn of a spiral. Pits and terraces dot the unlevel area of the summit. The headland pa (N43/20, 25, 30) all feature a defensive ditch across the landward end of the site. Their internal features differ markedly. N43/20 has flat areas in three separately defendable units. Pits are confined to the most landward unit. N43/25 is not at the extreme end of a headland. The seaward end of the site is cut off from a razor-backed ridge by a natural saddle strengthened with a ditch. N43/30 occupies the large area on the top of Kauri Point. Visible earthwork features are concentrated on a small knoll near the landward end of the site (Fig. 5). Undefended Sites These are unfortified and have pit(s) and/or terrace(s). Because pallisade fortification rarely leaves surface evidence, some sites may be incorrectly placed in this category. It is often impossible to determine whether a feature is a pit or a terrace. Only excavation can allow definite judgements. Twenty-four undefended sites have been recorded for the area surveyed (Fig. 1). The actual number is certainly much greater. Many sites seen in the recent survey were not recorded for lack of time. Undefended sites are often small and inconspicuous. When under bush or not on ridges they are easily missed. Twenty-two of the recorded sites are on ridges. Most are on ridge knolls with flattened summits (e.g. N43/661, Fig. 7). Small pits (e.g. 3 x 1.5m, 2.1 x 1.1m) are placed in the top or side of the knoll, or on the ridge top leading up to it. Terraces, also common with these sites, are usually small, like the pits, with two or three sides cut into the slope. Sites with this pattern are particularly common on the ridges about Apuapu Bay. Above Oranga Bay are three sites each with a regular pair of pits in the top of a knoll (N43/647, 648, 650, Fig. 2). The oven or fire pit site (N43/629) is not in immediate association with any other features. Of the two sites not on ridges one (N43/646) may be a gumdiggers' pit, or a natural ground conformation. 31

10 Fig. 7. Sketch plan of ridge knoll site N43/66T, with profile. The other site (N43/23) is an isolated pit situated close to a good stream, not far behind a beach. It may be a house pit (Davidson 1963). Most of the undefended sites involve little in the way of earthworks. An exception is N43/651, for which a large area has been levelled in stony ground (Fig. 3). Midden Midden is a general term for any sort of rubbish dump. In coastal areas middens usually contain mostly shell, with bone, hangi stones and charcoal to lesser extent. Exposure is most commonly by sea and stream erosion of the natural flat areas behind beaches. Middens are also often found in pa and undefended sites. Eleven midden sites are recorded (Fig. 1). Five of these are close to beaches (N43/24, 632, 638, 643, 660). Three are in level areas ending abruptly above beaches (N43/642, 652, 659). One is below a ridge, on a slope between sixty and ninety metres above a beach (N43/633). Another is in low ground above the swampy area behind a beach (N43/658). One is well inland near a stream and under forest (N43/662). Midden shell was observed at eight of the twenty-four undefended sites, and three of the five pa sites. DISCUSSION Not all the sites in the area surveyed have been recorded, and the descriptions of recorded sites are only brief. There is a bias in field surveying which favours the discovery of sites where travel is easiest and sites are expected, 32

11 that is, on cleared areas, ridges and beach fronts. Despite these limitations, the survey does allow the following observations: Pa sites are common and are located on headlands and peaks easily accessible via ridges. The distribution of undefended sites on ridges is extensive, and along some ridges is dense. Evidence of the use of marine resources is widespread. There are many beach middens, and shell is dispersed in many sites away from the shore. Numerous pits and terraces are found in both pa and undefended sites. The pits and terraces vary greatly in shape and size. Another Inner Gulf Island of similar size and site density is Motutapu Island, with almost 400 sites (Davidson pers. comm.). This, in addition to the density of sites in the areas of Ponui that have been surveyed, suggests that there are many more sites to be recorded on the island. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr B.W. Hayward, Dr S. Bulmer and Miss E. Brown for critically reading the manuscript. I would also like to thank the Chamberlins for allowing this work to be carried out on their property. REFERENCES Davidson, J.M. 1963: Site survey: Ponui Island. New Zealand Archaeological Association Newsletter 6 II): Davidson, J.M. 1970: Excavation of an "undefended" site N38/37, on Motutapu Island, New Zealand. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 7: Davidson, J.M. 1978: Auckland prehistory: a review. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 15: Diamond, J.T. 1963: Maori Pa without visible earthwork defences. New Zealand Archaeological Association Newsletter 6 (I): Fisher, V.F. 1964: A note on archaeological work at Ponui Island. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 6 (I): 21. Golson, J. & Green, R.C. 1958: "A handbook to field recording in New Zealand". New Zealand Archaeological Association, Monograph I. Moore, P.R. & Tiller, E.M. 1975: Radiocarbon dates for New Zealand archaeological sites. New Zealand Archaeological Association Newsletter 18(3): Nicholls, M.P. 1963: A preliminary report of excavations on Ponui Island. New Zealand Archaeological Association Newsletter 6(1): Nicholls, M.P. 1964: Excavations on Ponui Island. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 6(1): Shawcross, W. 1967: An investigation of prehistoric diet and economy on a coastal site at Galatea Bay, New Zealand. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 33: Terrell, J. 1966: The excavation and analysis of a Maori cooking site on Ponui Island. New Zealand Archaeological Association Newsletter 9(4): Terrell, J. 1967: Galatea Bay the excavation of a beach-stream midden site on Ponui Island in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, General 2(3):

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