ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ON THE CAVALLI ISLANDS, NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND

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1 TANE 25, 1979 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ON THE CAVALLI ISLANDS, NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND by Bruce W. Hayward,* Phillip R. Moore,* Gillian F. Puch,** E. Gael Ramsay tand A.E. Wright tt *New Zealand Geological Survey, P.O. Box , Lower Hull **22 Dallinghoe Crescent, Milford, Auckland t Department of Economic History, University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W., Australia 2351 tt Department of Botany, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland SUMMARY Seventy archaeological sites are recorded on the Cavalli Islands. These include 14 pa, 36 pit and terrace sites, 13 middens, 5 cultivation sites and 3 occurences of taro. Midden contents include flakes of obsidian, greywacke, quartz, chert, chalcedony and basalt, as well as shellfish, fishbones and bones of native dogs, moa, seal and other marine mammals. Speculation based on the archaeological record leads us to suggest that there was a fairly large population living on the Cavallis for relatively long periods in pre- and early post-european times. Most settlements were concentrated around the southern shores of Motukawanui and western Motukawaiti. The distribution of pits and presence of "made" soils and field systems suggest that much of Motukawanui and some of the northern islands were cultivated. INTRODUCTION This paper briefly describes the archaeological sites recorded on the Cavalli Islands during a ten day visit over the New Year period (28 December January 1979). The survey was undertaken as part of an Offshore Islands Research Group trip to study aspects of the islands' ecology and prehistory. The Cavalli Islands are situated off the east coast of Northland between the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa, some 2-4km out from Matauri Bay (Fig. 1). The largest island, Motukawanui, is 4km long by 2km wide and covers an area of 310 hectares. This island, which rises to a height of 177m, lies in the centre of the group and is surrounded by about 35 smaller islands which can be divided up as follows: a. those immediately adjacent to Motukawanui, b. the southern islands, which include the second largest island in the Cavalli Group, namely Motukawaiti or Step Island (Fig. 2), 157

2 "The Finger' Nukutaunga Is "West" Hamaruru Is 1 Panaki Is Takaroto Rock "East" Hamaruru Is / "Vegetable Bay" Haraweka Is Q^r^ Motutakupu Is "Sodoms R" "Blowhole Pt" North Twin Is" 'South Twin Is" "Cormorant Bay' Motumahanga "Te Anaputaiti Rocks" Te Anaputaiti Is Te Anaputa Is ^ O y * Motuharakeke Is Motukahakaha Is "Whatupukeiti Rocks" t!c»e^ ^^Whatupukeiti Is Whatupuke IST*S^ W Algal Rocks" u Motukawaiti Is (Step Is) Kahangaro Is" / 'Kahangaroiti Rock" Motuhui Fig. 1. Map of the Cavalli Islands, north-east New Zealand. Place names in parentheses are unofficial, having been coined by our party to assist in description. 158

3 Fig. 2. Aerial view looking north-north-west over the southern Cavalli Islands. From bottom left the islands are Motuhuia, Motukawaiti, Whatupuke, Whatupukeiti, Tarawera and southern Motukawanui. A selection of archaeological sites have been labelled. Photograph: D.L. Homer (New Zealand Geological Survey). c. the northern islands (Fig. 3) consisting of nine islands, d. the eastern islands consisting of three named islands. Ridges, clifftops, beaches and major valleys on Motukawanui and Motukawaiti were inspected for the presence of archaeological sites, and each of the smaller islands was visited by at least one of us. The thoroughness of the survey varied from island to island depending largely upon the vegetation and undoubtedly additional sites have yet to be located. Motukawaiti is the only island now being grazed and the short grass greatly assisted the search. Motukawanui, on the other hand, had not been grazed for four years and the long grass and tea tree scrub made the survey extremely difficult. The long grass, coupled with dense thickets of Sodom's apple (Solanum sodomeum) which cover the majority of sites on Motukawanui, prevented both an accurate determination of many of the features and the preparation of plans. Of the smaller islands, some such as Whatupuke, Kahangaro, Motutapere and Haraweka, are covered in dense low vegetation of long grass, flax and scrub, which made surveying difficult. Others, such as Motumuka, Motuharakeke, Motukaroro,Motu 159

4 Fig. 3. Aerial view looking cast-south-east over the northern islands of the Cavallis. From bottom left the islands are Horonui, Motutapere, West and F^asl Hamaruru. Panaki. Survey). canopied scrub or coastal forest or less dense grass and low scrub which made searching easier. Overall the preservation of ground features is poor and nowhere are pits, ditches or terraces well defined. This is largely because of modification of the islands over the last one hundred or so years. Trampling by cattle on Motukawanui, Motukawaiti, Whatupuke and Kahangaro have been chiefly responsible for the extensive damage on these islands. On many of the smaller islands, burrowing by sea birds and the activities of mutton-birding parties have taken a toll. Subsurface features are generally only threatened around the coastline or in nesting colonies. References to the Maori inhabitants of the Cavallis from pre-european times through to about 1900 are few. The earliest European sighting recorded is that of Captain Cook, who when becalmed near the islands in 1769, was visited by several canoes (Beaglehole 1955). There are no previously published accounts of archaeological sites on the Cavalli Islands, although eight sites had previously been recorded and placed on file with the New Zealand Archaeological Association. Molly Nichols, Janet Davidson and Anne Leahy recorded four sites in 1965, having seen them from Matauri Bay. Mr C. Devonshire recorded four further sites during a brief visit to Papatara Bay in The New Zealand Historic Places Trust, at the request of local Maoris, organised a brief expedition late in 1978 to recover exposed bones from the burial site behind North Beach, Motukawanui. 160

5 ANNOTATED LIST OF SITES (Figs. 4, 5, 6) Site numbers are those of the New Zealand Archaeological Association's Record File. Grid references (e.g ) are from NZMS 1 Sheets N8 Whangaroa (2nd Ed. 1972) and Nil Kerikeri (3rd Ed. 1969). Nl1/459 (464799) N8/1 N8/4 N8/5 N8/6 (446802) (449827) (448824) (451821) N8/14 (438805) N8/20 (457803) N8/21 (439829) N8/22 (447822) N8/23 (440838) N8/139 (467802) N8/140 (465801) N8/141 (455800) N8/142 (454802) N8/143 (456802) N8/144 (454807) N8/145 (452819) N8/146 (448820) N8/147 (446821) N8/148 (446820) HEADLAND PA, south Motukawaiti. On terraced headland surrounded by cliffs and joined to remainder of island by a razor-back saddle. ISLAND PA, Kahangaro. Top of island terraced with probable ditch on west side; hangi stones present. PITS and TERRACES, south Limonite Bay, Motukawanui. Two groups of pits and terraces on slopes above south end of bay. HILL PA, south Motukawanui. Terraces and possibly pits. HEADLAND PA, south-east Motukawanui. Pits and terraces on headland surrounded by cliffs and joined to mainland by narrow ridge; single large terrace outside defended area. MIDDEN, Piraunui. Shell, charcoal, hangi stones and fishbones eroding from bank at back of beach. CULTIVATION SITE, Motukawaiti. On north-west slopes of island. Previously recorded but not observed by us. HEADLAND PA, north Papatara Bay, Motukawanui. Pits and terraces on headland surrounded by cliffs; double ditch across saddle. CULTIVATION SITE, south Papatara Bay, Motukawanui. Series of shallow ditches running up and down hillsides behind south end of bay. CULTIVATION SITE, north Papatara Bay, Motukawanui. On saddle outside double ditch defences of N8/21. Previously recorded but not observed by us. HEADLAND PA, east Motukawaiti. Elongate platform with four terraces on south side and several pits (Fig. 7), located on top of high eastern headland (Fig. 2), surrounded by cliffs with narrow saddle to main part of island. TERRACES, south-east Motukawaiti. Two terraces (5 x 2.5m, 3 x 2m) on south facing slopes, 50m A.S.L. HEADLAND PA, south-west Motukawaiti. On headland surrounded by cliffs and steep slopes. Saddle cut by double ditch (each 3m across, 2m deep) enclosing 50 x 20m platform. MIDDEN, west Motukawaiti. Layers of shell, hangi stones, charcoal, fish bone and artefactual material within gravels eroding along 75m face of bank cut in natural terrace behind beach; several umu exposed. MIDDEN, north-west Motukawaiti. Scattered shell on hillside above beach. MIDDEN, Whatupuke. Shell and fish bone eroding from bank on north edge of natural 20 x 10m terrace at east end of island. PITS, Motumuka. Thirty-two pits and occasional terraces on crest of island (Fig. 8). HEADLAND PA, south Motukawanui. Terraces and pits on headland surrounded by cliffs and separated from rest of island by l-2m deep ditch. TERRACES, Motukawa Point, Motukawanui. Six terraces on spur leading down to point. MIDDEN, Motukawa Point, Motukawanui. 0.2m thick layers of shell and hangi stones beneath lm layer of pebbles, shell, fish bone and hangi stones eroding from bank behind beach; several umu exposed. 161

6 pa pits and/or terraces * agricultural site a midden ^ Tarawera Is Piraunui Is Whatupuke Is 144 o Kahangaro ls^ 1 km Fig. 4. Archaeological N8/149 (445820) N8/150 N8/151 N8/152 N8/153 N8/154 N8/155 N8/156 N8/157 N8/158 (450822) ( ) ( ) (448826) (452827) (444829) (443829) (437827) (438832) N8/159 (443834) N8/160 (452837) N8/161 ( ) N8/162 (437835) N8/163 (433834) N11/459 Motuhuia Is sites on the southern islands of the Cavallis. MIDDEN, Motukawa Point, Motukawanui. 0.4m thick layer of shell, fish bone, hangi stones and artefactual material eroding from bank behind beach. PITS and TERRACES, south-east Motukawanui. Two pits and several possible terraces on slopes on north side of gut opposite N8/6. PITS and TERRACES, south Motukawanui. Several clusters of pits and terraces (visible on aerial photographs) along crest of ridge behind south Papatara Bay. CULTIVATION SITE, south Motukawanui. Series of shallow ditches running up and down eastern slopes of ridge between Papatara Bay and narrow swamp. PITS, south Motukawanui. Six probable pits on crest of short spur. ISLAND PA, Motukaroro. Platform, two terraces (10 x 8m, 7 x 4m) and single pit on top of small, cliffed island. MIDDEN, Papatara Bay, Motukawanui. Layer of hangi stones and charcoal eroding from bank behind beach. TARO, Papatara Bay, Motukawanui. Several clumps alongside small stream adjacent to homestead. ISLAND PA, Te Karo. Platform with terrace at either end, on top of small islandsurroundedby low cliffs. MIDDEN, Waiiti Bay, Motukawanui. 0.3m layer of pebbly soil containing shell, bone, charcoal, hangi stones and artefactual material, eroding from low bank behind beach. PITS and TERRACES, Waiiti Bay, Motukawanui. Two groups of pits and terraces on slopes of spur on south side of swamp. TARO, Waiiti Stream, Motukawanui. Numerous clumps of taro along 300m stretch of stream. PITS and TERRACES, Waiiti Bay, Motukawanui. Series of pits and terraces on ridge between two large streams. TERRACE, Waiiti Bay, Motukawanui. Single terrace near foot of spur. TERRACE, Waiiti Bay, Motukawanui. One large terrace on headland above Parawanui Reef. 162 ^

7 pits and/or terraces» agricultural site S "Sodoms» midden a find spot "North Beach" Motumahanga Is ^ 1 Motukaroro Is Motumuka Is Fig. 5. Archaeological sites on Motukawanui and the adjacent smaller islands. 163

8 N8/164 (434835) N8/165 (433837) N8/166 (435837) N8/167 (434840) N8/168 (435843) N8/169 (434843) N8/170 (437844) N8/17I (440846) N8/172 (448837) N8/173 (452837) N8/174 (451839) N8/175 (447843) N8/176 (446843) N8/177 (448845) N8/178 (454846) N8/179 (444848) N8/180 (443849) PITS and TERRACES, Waiiti Bay, Motukawanui. Cluster of pits and terraces on knoll on ridge. TERRACES, west Motukawanui. Two large terraces on coastal ridge above cliffs. TERRACES, west Motukawanui. Two small terraces (each 5 x 2.5m) on flat crest of spur. PIT and TERRACES, west Motukawanui. Pit and two terraces on knoll on coastal ridge. PITS and TERRACES, west Motukawanui. Group of terraces and probable pits on small point above Motumahanga. ISLAND PA, Motumahanga. Platform and eight terraces on summit of small island surrounded by low cliffs. TERRACES, west Motukawanui. Two terraces (8 x 3m, 5 x 2m) on end of spur, 30m above small beach. PITS and TERRACE, south Cormorant Bay, Motukawanui. On terrace, several definite pits (4 x 2 x 0.5m) and other possible pits on flat crest of spur, 100m A.S.L. TERRACE, Moturahurahu Bay, Motukawanui. Single terrace on cliff top. ISLAND PA, Moturahurahu. Platform with three pits (2.5 x 1.5 x 0.5m) to the west, on summit of small island surrounded by cliffs. FIND SPOT, Pillow Bay, Motukawanui. Four stone flakes on headland above south side of Bay. PITS and TERRACES, Motukawanui. Two groups of at least six pits and numerous terraces on ridge leading up to trig from the south. TARO, Kikipaku Stream, Motukawanui. Patches of taro alongside upper reaches of stream. PITS and TERRACES, Trig, Motukawanui. At least three pits (3x2 x 0.3m) and several terraces around summit of island. HEADLAND PA, north Te Toi Bay, Motukawanui. Terraces on end of headland surrounded by cliffs and narrow saddle. PIT, Cormorant Bay, Motukawanui. Single pit on west edge of flat knoll on main ridge above Bay. PITS and TERRACES, Cormorant Bay, Motukawanui. Numerous pits and terraces on narrow knoll, 100m A.S.L. behind middle of Bay. Horonui Is 4\ pa * pits and/or terraces * agricultural site * midden Haraweka Is Motutakupu Is 1 km Fig. 6. Archaeological sites on the northern islands of the Cavallis. 164

9 N8/I81 (442852) MIDDEN, Cormorant Bay, Motukawanui. Shell, hangi stones and artefactual material eroding from cliff top above small beach. N8/182 (445851) TERRACE, north Motukawanui. Single terrace (8 x 3m) on slope on north side of main ridge. N8/183 (444852) PIT, Sodom's Point, Motukawanui. Single pit (5 x 3 x 0.3m) near top of ridge that leads along Point. N8/184 (443855) TERRACE, Sodom's Point, Motukawanui. Single terrace (8 x 3m). 200m from end of Point. N8/185 (450854) PITS, north Motukawanui. Group of twelve or more pits (up to 5 x 3 x 0.5m) on large flat crest of main ridge. N8/186 (452856) PITS and MIDDEN, North Beach, Motukawanui. Two pits (6 x 3.5 x 2m, 4 x 2 x 0.3m) on small headland behind middle of sandy beach; shell and hangi stones eroding from edge of Hat. N8/187 (455857) TERRACES, north Motukawanui. Three terraces on high knoll above North Beach. N8/I88 (457858) TERRACES, north-east Motukawanui. Two terraces (each 5 x 2m) on slope near cliff edge. N8/I89 (442875) PITS and TERRACE, Motutapere. Two or more pits and single terrace (6 x 3m) on crest of island. N8/I90 (446869) TERRACES, West Hamaruru. Three terraces on south-west slopes of island. N8/191 (451869) HEADLAND PA, Vegetable Bay, Panaki. On terraced headland surrounded by cliffs and narrow saddle. N8/192 ( CULTIVATION SITE, Panaki. Small beach pebbles in soil over ) 500nr area. N8/I93 (453871) TERRACES and MIDDEN, Panaki. Series of terraces around head of western valley; shell and hangi stones eroding from cliff edge. N8/194 (455870) TERRACE, Panaki. 10 x 5m terrace on cliff edge. N8/195 (466870) MIDDEN, Nukutaunga. Several shells and hangi stones eroding from cliff edge. N8/196 (468870) PITS, Nukutaunga. Cluster of four pits (3 x 1.5 x 0.3m) on flat cliff edge. N8/I97 (467869) PITS, Nukutaunga. Cluster of three or more pits on flat around beacon, plus single pit 50m to north. N8/198 (454857) MIDDEN and BURIAL, North Beach, Motukawanui. Abundant shell scatter eroding from foredunes at back of beach. Human bones recovered by N.Z. Historic Places Trust in SITE TYPES Pa Fourteen pa sites were recorded on the Cavalli Islands (Table 1). Three are on Motukawaiti (Figs. 2, 4); nine on Motukawanui or the small islands adjacent to it (Fig. 5) and the other two are on Kahangaro in the south and Panaki in the north (Figs. 4, 6). The largest concentration of pa sites (six) is around the southern end of Motukawanui. Using the topographic classification of Golson and Green (1958), one is a hill pa, five are island pa and eight coastal headland pa. The hill pa (N8/5) appears to have no ditch defences but its topographic location on a high rounded hill on the south-eastern coast of Motukawanui makes it an easily defended position. Of the island pa, all are afforded protection to some 165

10 degree by the surrounding sea and cliffs. Four (N8/154, 159, 169, 173) are located on small islands close to the coast of Motukawanui and lack any ditch defences. The fifth (N8/1) on Kahangaro Island, is on a slightly larger island with several landing beaches and has a ditch across one side. Three of the headland pa (N8/21, 141, 146) have ditches across the saddle that connects them to the main part of the island. Two of these have double ditches, each of which measures 2-3m wide and 2m deep. The remaining five headland pa (N8/6, 139, 178, 191, Nl 1/459) have no ditches but do have good natural defences in the form of cliffs (e.g. Fig. 7) and very narrow saddles connecting them to the main part of the island. N8/I39 cliffs 0 0 B7 ^~lr-- i r cliffs Fig. 7. Plan of the pa (N8/139) at the east end of Motukawaiti. Pits and terraces An accurate count of the number of pits and terraces on the Cavalli Islands is impossible, especially on Motukawanui where cattle damage, long grass and Sodom's apple obscure many sites. It is often difficult to distinguish between extensively damaged pits and man-made terraces. Outside of pa, we have recorded 36 pit and/or terrace sites containing approximately 150 pits and terraces. Most of these are on Motukawanui, although there are a number of pits on Motumuka and Nukutaunga, and terraces on Motukawaiti and Panaki. The majority of pits on the Cavallis are located on the flat or gently sloping tops of ridges, spurs, knolls or cliff tops. All the pits recorded are rectangular in shape and although the two largest pits found measured 6 x 3.5 x 2m (N8/186) and 5 x 3 x 0.5m (N8/185), the majority were 3 x 2m and 0.1 to 0.5m deep. Two large sites were found, namely N8/145 on Motumuka containing 32 pits (Fig. 8) clustered together along the narrow flattened crest of the island, and N8/185 on Motukawanui containing a dozen or more pits arranged in regular rows over a flat section of the main ridge, but most of the pits located were in clusters of between two and eight. Pits are the subterranean basal portions of low rectangular buildings used either for food storage or dwellings. It seems likely that the majority of pits on the Cavallis were used for storage of food, probably kumara grown on 166

11 N8/145 Cliffs 10 m slopes Fig. 8. Plan of the pits and terraces (N8/145) on the crest of Motumuka. the islands, but this is impossible to confirm on surface evidence alone. The terraces recorded in sites all appear to be man-made and are generally located on the upper slopes of knolls and ridges. On the Cavallis the majority of terraces are small (c.8 x 3m), occur singly or in small groups of two to six, and are often associated with pits. In addition to these man-made terraces, there are numerous larger, apparently natural terraces which were probably also utilised by the Maoris, but have not been recorded as sites. The exact use of all these terraces is impossible to determine without excavation but undoubtedly those within pa or on lower slopes were made to provide additional flat ground around occupation sites either for open air activities or for the construction of buildings. Terraces associated with the ridge top pit sites were possible used for siting above-ground buildings or food stores, or in conjunction with palisades, for defensive purposes. Cultivation Sites Five cultivation sites are recorded on the Cavallis. This obviously represents only a fraction of the areas that would have been cultivated over the years. Three of the recorded sites are on Motukawanui, one on Motukawaiti and one on Panaki. Sites N8/22 and 152 occur on either side of an elongate ridge at the southern end of Motukawanui. Both sites cover one to two hectares and consist of a series of parallel, shallow ditches, that are less than 0.1m deep and are 5 to 10m apart running up and down the slopes. Site N8/192 covers a large area of western Panaki. Here small rounded beach pebbles occur within the soil. The "made" soil (Daniels 1970) extends from the high point at the western end of the island, around the head of the main valley, as far east as the next valley. Most of the main valley and gentler parts of the ridges were probably cultivated as was the narrow northern headland where a prominent layer of pebbles occurs in the soil profile. Although it is difficult to imagine anyone carrying huge loads of beach pebbles up to the top of the island simply to add to the soil, the alternative, that the pebbles represent a natural deposit seems most unlikely. The pebbles are all relatively fresh, much the same size and occur along the top of the main 167

12 Table 1. Number of archaeological sites of different types recorded on the Cavalli Islands. Site type Number Pa 14 Pits 7 Terraces 14 Pits and terraces 13 Find spots 1 Taro 3 Pits and midden 1 Terraces and midden 1 Cultivation sites 5 Middens 10 Midden and burials 1 TOTAL 70 ridge. If they represent a gravel deposit formed during Pleistocene high sea levels, it is very unlikely that they would still occur on the ridges (especially on the narrow northern headland) and be so unweathered. It is also significant that similar pebbles do not occur in the soil profile of adjacent islands, or on ridges at a similar height on Motukawanui. Other evidence of occupation terraces and midden is associated with the area of modified soil on Panaki. The prominent layer of pebbles on the northern headland, which occurs within the soil profile about 0.1m below ground level, and persists for at least 10m, is not readily explained. It may represent the original level of "made" soil, which has since been covered by post-cultivation unmodified soil. Cultivation sites N8/20 and 23, recorded by C. Devonshire in 1967, were not relocated by us, possibly because of the long grass. We have also recorded three occurrences of taro growing alongside streams behind Papatara Bay (N8/156) and in Waiiti and Kikipaku Valleys (N8/160, 176) on Motukawanui. The Maoris are known to have brought taro with them from Polynesia and to have planted it around streams to be harvested as a food source. These three localities are possibly remnants of taro gardens that were cultivated by local Maoris. Midden Midden occurs at 20 7o of the recorded sites. The majority of middens (e.g. N8/14, 143, 144, 155, 181, 186, 195) consist of small patches of discarded shell and other debris. The most extensive middens (e.g. N8/142, 148, 149, 158, 198) occur beneath low terraces, or in sand dunes immediately behind sandy beaches. At the west end of Motukawaiti, for example, 168

13 a mixture of shell, charcoal, hangi stones and several umu (N8/142) occur within a 2m thick, partially reworked gravel deposit, of storm beach and coastal terrace origin. This midden is exposed for 75m in the bank behind the beach and appears to have been reworked in parts by storms prior to burial, as does the midden (N8/149) at Motukawa Point. Hangi stones and charcoal are common in most of the middens and several umu (N8/148) are exposed beneath a low coastal terrace just east of Motukawa Point. The middens contain quantities of fish bone and shell (Table 2). The most common shells, such as black Nerita (Nerita), catseye (Lunella), Cook's turban shell (Cookia), white rock shell (Haustrum), hopetea (Thais) and limpets (Cellana), are from species that live on rocky shores around the Table 2. List of shellfish, bone and other contents recorded in middens on the Cavalli Islands. Shell Cellana denticulata C. radians Chione stuchburyi Cominella adspersa C. virgata Cookia sulcata Crassostrea glomerata Evechinus chloroticus Gari stangeri Glycymeris laticostata G. modesta Haliotis iris Haustrum haustorium Lunella smaragda Maoricolpus roseus Mayena australasiae Melagraphia aethiops Nerita melanotragus Paphies australis P. subtriangulatum Penion adusta Perna canaliculus Protothaca crassicosta Struthiolaria papulosa Tawera spissa Thais orbita Zediloma atrovirens Bone dog dolphin or whale fish moa seal tooth stone flakes hangi stones charcoal N8/

14 islands. Other shells that occur more rarely in the middens, and were probably also collected from local rocks, include the dark top shell (Melagraphia), mussel (Perna), oyster (Crassostrea), paua (Haliotis), and Mayena, Protothaca and Zediloma, as well as the sea egg (Evechinus). In addition there are shells of species that were probably collected subtidally around the islands, especially the dog cockle (Glycymeris), ostrich foot (Struthiolaria) and zigzag cockle (Tawera). Tuatua (Paphies subtriangulatum). cockle (Chione) and pipi (Paphies australis) are common in several middens (e.g. N8/6, 158, 193), but these species do not live around the Cavalli Islands today. Tuatua may have lived in the intertidal and subtidal sands of some of the islands' beaches in the past, but are more likely to have been collected from nearby Matauri Bay. Cockles and pipis were probably collected from the more sheltered tidal flats of Whangaroa Harbour. The presence of bones of dog, moa, seal and other marine mammals would suggest that these too, formed part of the local diet at times. Artefacts (Table 3) A total of 15 obsidian flakes and pieces were collected from five different sites (N8/21, 142, 149, 181, 191). All except two of the flakes are grey-green in transmitted light and have a duller lustre than most obsidian, probably due to the presence of numerous small fluid inclusions. None of these flakes showed obvious banding. Two flakes (Z1829, Z1823) have a more glassy appearance, and are brighter green in transmitted light; one is strongly banded. Other stone material collected includes flakes of fine to medium-grained greywacke (N8/148, 174), metavolcanic rock (N8/142), chalcedony (N8/142, 158), chert (N8/158, and north end of Waiiti Bay, Z1825), quartz (N8/174) and porphyritic basalt (N8/193). A small chert core and a worked piece of quartzose sandstone, possibly used as a file, were collected from Motukawaiti (N8/142). The greywacke, metavolcanic rock and quartz flakes were most likely struck from beach cobbles collected around the Cavalli Islands. The chert is different from that occuring on the islands and, together with the chalcedony, was probably collected somewhere on the mainland. A common source for some of the chert is suggested by the very similar appearance of the core, and large chert flake from Waiiti Bay (N8/158). The source of the quartzose sandstone is unknown, but could be the late Cretaceous early Tertiary sediments outcropping around Whangaroa. The porphyritic basalt is most likely derived from the nearby Horeke Basalts, and the grey-green obsidian probably comes from the Huruiki source, some 60km to the south (Ward 1973). The two brighter green obsidian flakes could be from Mayor Island. 170

15 Table 3. List of artefacts collected from the Cavalli Islands. All have been registered under the terms of the Antiquities Act and are now held in the Auckland Institute and Museum. Registration Site number Description Number or location Z1823 N8/142, 2 obsidian flakes, 1 carnelian flake, Motukawaiti 1 piece quartz, 1 chert core, 1 flake metavolcanic rock. 1 greywacke flake Z1824 N8/142, 1 sandstone file Motukawaiti Z1825 N8/437834, 1 Hake yellow-brown chert Motukawanui ZI826 N8/158, 1 large chert flake, 1 chalcedony Motukawanui flake ZI827 N8/21, 1 obsidian flake Motukawanui ZI828 N8/149, 4 obsidian flakes Motukawanui Z1829 N8/148, 2 flakes siliceous greywacke Motukawanui Z1830 N8/174, 2 greywacke flakes, 2 quartz flakes Motukawanui ZI831 N8/191, 2 obsidian flakes Panaki Z1832 N8/193, 1 basalt flake Panaki Z201I N8/181, 6 obsidian flakes Motukawanui Z2012 N8/181, 1 piece argillite Motukawanui DISCUSSION Despite a thorough search, no archaeological sites were found on any of the eastern islands nor on many of the smaller northern and southern islands (e.g. Horonui, East Hamaruru, Haraweka, Motutakupu, Tarawera, Motuhuia). The majority of sites located are concentrated on the large island of Motukawanui, where evidence of occupation in the form of pa, middens, pits and terraces, is centred around the three southern beaches of Waiiti Bay, Papatara Bay and Limonite Bay. The presence of umu and thick midden deposits suggest that at most times the Maoris cooked, ate and possibly slept on the flat terraces immediately behind the beaches. Old photographs (held by the Auckland Institute and Museum Library) taken about 1900 show a small village of Maori-owned huts still standing on the terrace behind the southern part of Papatara Bay. The numerous pa around southern Motukawanui and on many of the small adjacent islands could 171

16 have served as places of refuge and safer storage of crops when the population was threatened by hostile forces. The northern coast and offshore islands of New Zealand with their mild climates, were suited for growing crops such as kumara, and the archaeological sites recorded here certainly indicate that the Cavalli Islands were extensively cultivated. Although cultivation sites on Motukawanui have only been identified at the southern end, storage sites (clusters of pits) are fairly evenly distributed all over the island. This suggests perhaps that many of the sheltered and more gentle slopes of Motukawanui were cultivated at one time or another. Much of the coastal forest on Motukawanui, and on several of the other larger islands, was probably burned off by the prehistoric Maori people and the resultant scrub and fernland periodically fired to allow for the planting of crops. Storage sites are absent from Motukawaiti, except for the few pits within the eastern pa (N8/139). This may indicate that the predominantly southfacing slopes of the island were not as well-suited for kumara cultivations as the slopes of other aspects on Motukawanui. However, the presence of an extensive midden (N8/142) and three pa sites, seems to suggest that Motukawaiti was at times a favoured spot for living. Archaeological sites on the northern islands suggest that Panaki and Nukutaunga were the two islands used most extensively. The presence of clusters of pits on Nukutaunga could imply that at times the large, gently sloping top of the island was cultivated. On Panaki, the "made" soils cover a large area and suggest extensive cultivation. People tending the gardens possibly lived in huts built on the nearby terraces (N8/193). The adjacent pa (N8/191) could have served as a place of refuge if required, and perhaps for storage of crops. The number and variety of archaeological sites leads us to suggest that there could have been a persistent, year-round population (possibly as many as 100 people) living on the Cavalli Islands for relatively long periods in pre- European and early post-european times. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank all the members of the Cavalli Islands party for their active interest and assistance in locating sites. We also are grateful to Mr P.R. Millener, University of Auckland, for identifying bone material. REFERENCES Beaglehole, J.C. 1955: "The Journals of Captain James Cook." Cambridge University Press, 4 vols. Daniels, J.R.S. 1970: "New Zealand Archaeology. A site recording handbook." New Zealand Archaeological Association, Monograph 4, 85p. Golson, J. & Green, R.C. 1958: "A handbook to field recording in New Zealand." New Zealand Archaeological Association, Monograph 1. Ward, G.K. 1973: Obsidian source localities in the North Island of New Zealand. New Zealand Archaeological Association Newsletter 16: