Our Treasures: It's Archaeology Week at Whangarei Museum

A miscellany of artefacts typical of archaeological sites from a Waltham Traveller fob watch and ceramic "dummy" egg, to an English sheared lip ink bottle and a bull show-lead nose ring.

It is often said that you can tell a lot about people by the things they have in their homes, yet interestingly enough, you can also discover much about past occupants of a home or building by why lies underneath or buried around it.

Many households would dispose of their rubbish not as we do now, but under the house, in gardens, disused long-drops, wells or farm gullies.

Underfloor deposits consist of objects which have accumulated under a property over time, whether accidentally mislaid, hidden, dropped between floorboards or cracks, thrown, dragged by animals or as a result of construction or renovation activities.

Because of Archaeology Week, collections staff at the Whangarei Museum have assembled a small assortment of artefacts for display which are typical of the types of items found or dug up from archaeological sites.

This eclectic array of objects is symbolic of life in the past and provides an insight into what was going on in the world and more specifically in households around New Zealand in earlier times.

Although there have been archaeological digs in Whangarei and Northland, such as the old Settlers Hotel site in Walton St, the remains are usually withheld by the contractors for further research and reporting.

From large hotel establishments and fortified pa to the humble cottage, historic sites are a source of archaeological data. They are a snapshot that captures not only information about constructions or buildings themselves, but the owner, builder, their wealth and social status whilst also providing a glimpse of the larger economic times in which they were constructed.

Investigating alterations and artefacts discovered at these locations can aid in the profiling of the people who lived there and help track both social history and structural changes through time. This type of information can also assist those wanting to research and trace the history of their area or own dwelling.

Pottery fragments and bottles excavated from the Settlers Hotel archaeological site have similarities with those uncovered near "Glorat", at Kiwi North. However, the majority of finds relating to the Clarke Homestead are of a more domestic nature such as the Devon Torquay ware eggcup and the S Maw, Son & Thompson Cherry Toothpaste lid c. 1870-1901 currently on display.

In the days before toothpaste was sold in tubes, it appeared in ceramic pots complete with beautifully decorated lids. Prepared and marketed by early chemists these pastes were aimed mainly at the well-to-do, which probably accounts for their rarity.

Other items unearthed on the homestead grounds include stoneware ginger-beer bottles transfer printed with the names of local manufacturers, while a Victorian Veterinary Bottle embossed with Vanner & Prest Embrocation for Horses London, c. 1890-1900 was also discovered indicating horses were present on the site.

Domestic objects discarded by earlier inhabitants or civilisations like those at Kiwi North, offer a host of remnants from a vanished material culture which can today be explored. Often evidence can be found of children, pets, domesticity or industry while also determining a timeline of occupation.

Whether archaeological artefacts or underfloor deposits, vestiges left behind provides information on minutiae daily life and allow us to investigate a region, existence and time span through its refuse.

■ Natalie Brookland is collection registrar, Whangarei Museum at Kiwi North.