Dilys Amanda Johns
FIIC London, ICCROM Rome, CCI Ottawa, NZCCM
Biography
Dilys Johns studied Archaeology at the University of Auckland, completing a thesis: Waterlogged Wood Conservation – an investigation of radiation-induced polymerization of monomers in 1985.
Subsequently Dilys received a Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs Cultural Conservation Advisory Council scholarship to study conservation science in Rome at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation of Cultural Property and in Ottawa at the Canadian Conservation Institute.
Returning to New Zealand in 1987 Dilys established the National Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conservation Laboratory at The University of Auckland. This purpose-built laboratory, a unique facility in NZ, specializes in the study and conservation of waterlogged ‘at risk’ taonga / artefacts and in situ preservation of wetland archaeological sites.
Dilys Johns has been involved with a variety of projects throughout New Zealand and the Pacific. She currently directs conservation at the University of Auckland Conservation laboratory 9 satellite laboratories in Southland, Otago, Wellington, Nelson, Waiuku, Wairapapa, Waikato-Tainui, Muriwai and Rekohu (Chatham Islands).
Current off-site and large scale conservation projects include:
- 2020 October 5. Conserved collections from 58 locations in Aotearoa (736 taonga tūturu) were uplifted by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage Manatū Taonga and deposited at the Auckland Museum off-site storage Manu Taiko in Otahuhu.
- 2020 March - On-site assessment and conservation recommendations for taonga tuturu from Matakoa Station, East Coast. A satllite conservation faciloity has been established at Tairawhiti Museum , in consultation with iwi and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- 2019 November - Conservation and return of 424 taonga (including waterlogged wood, gourd, woven/bradided fibre, bone and pounamu artefacts). Uplifted by Ngati Awa and Whakatane Museum from the Conservation laboratory and Waipapa marae, The University of Auckland. https://teaomaori.news/more-100-early-maori-artifacts-returned-ngati-awa
- 2019 September – Conservation presentation, on-site waka assessment and conservation recommendations Hopuhopu marae Rangiriri, Waikato. For the 7 metre, waterlogged stern section of a totara (Podocarpus totara) waka. This taonga will be conserved is a satellite facility close to its recovery venue with ongoing Waikato-Tainui participation.
- 2019 January – on-site field assessment, conservation recommendations and hui at Peria marae for a carving (whakairo) recovered in a stream near Oruru, Northland, for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Ngati Kahu and Heritage New Zealand. The whakairo has subsequently been transported by Ngati Kahu to the Auckland laboratory for conservation.
- 2018 October - taonga assessment and recommendations for a 3.5metre waka recovered near Te Kauwhata, Waikato for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Waikato-Tainui.
- 2018 May – taonga assessment and establishment of a conservation facility in Masterton, Wairapapa to preserve a 5.6 metre waterlogged totara (Podocarpus totara) carved canoe side strake with Ngati Kahungunu and Te Manatu Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- 2017 August – conservation assessment, treatment recommendations and establishing a treatment facility for recently removed Momori rakau (dendroglyph) from Hapupu National Historic Reserve, Rekohu (Chatham Islands). A project initiated by Hokotehi Moriori Trust and the Department of Conservation, Rekohu.
- 2016 July - assessment, recovery and analysis of a waterlogged wood feature, possibly a fish weir, discovered in Te Wherowhero lagoon Muriwai, near Gisborne, http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2382453-135/exciting-archaeological-find-in-muriwai-estuary see also the HNZ newsletter
- 2016 - Recently a new treatment venue for completion of the significant Anaweka canoe strake has been established in Takaka in partnership with Fonterra, Manuwhenua ki Mohua and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- http://www.gbweekly.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017_june02GBWeekly.pdf
- http://www2.fonterra.com/entry/partnership-key-to-restoration
- 2015 June - recovery, preliminary assessment and establishment of conservation facilities for a waterlogged canoe discovered near the Waikato River with Ngatiteata Kaumatua George Flavell and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/11067937_466576093513232_5012720729628135522_o.jpg
- 2014 to present - assessment, excavation and conservation of a canoe and associated fibre taonga from Papanui Inlet, Otakou Peninsula, Dunedin. Otakou Te Runanga o Otakou, Ngai Tahu. http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/te-karaka/issue-66/ https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/hundreds-turn-out-treaty-waitangi-festival
- http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/our_stories/historic-waka-found/ http://blog.doc.govt.nz/2014/10/20/waka-papanui-inlet/ http://www.tepanui.co.nz/tpr/2014/12/waka-excavation/
- 2012 to present - conservation of a large carved 6 meter canoe section recovered near Anaweka Estuary on the northern west coast of the South Island, New Zealand. A new venue for completion of this large project has recently been established in Takaka https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/news-events-and-notices/news/news-2014/10/cultural-conservation-of-ancient-waka-heralds-a-new-chapter-in-u.html http://www.hokulea.com/uncovering-ancient-waka/ http://www.radiolive.co.nz/New-Zealands-Most-Precious-Artefact/tabid/506/articleID/74388/Default.aspx
- 2011 to present - on-site assessment of a canoe recovered from Omaui, Mokomoko Inlet , Southland for Murihiku, Ngai Tahu. Treatment of the taonga is ongoing at Southland Museum where conservation progress is accessible to museum visitors Exhibiting conservation Southland Museum and Art Gallery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ot9436SpMY http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/6279936/Conservation-expert-looks-at-Omaui-waka
- 2011 to present - on-site assessment and conservation of a small canoe recovered from Pakiri estuary, near Warkworth for Ngati Manuhiri.
- 2010 to present - conservation of a waterlogged canoe recovered from Muriwai Beach at Auckland Council Regional Depot for Ngati Whatua o Kaipara,Te Kawerau Iwi Tribal Authority and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8WPJNijSt0 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10617132
- 2009 to present - conservation of a waterlogged canoe roughout recovered from Hutt River, Wellington, for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2950294/Chemical-bath-to-save-waka
Research | Current
- Conservation of at-risk taonga
- Sustainability of in situ preservation for wetland archaeological sites in New Zealand
Teaching | Current
Previous:
ANTHRO 340 Heritage Conservation in Aotearoa
This course presents a cultural conservation overview focused on rationale and principles rather than treatment. Heritage Conservation in Aotearoa equips students with a cultural orientation to materials conservation where issues are examined through several contexts including anthropological studies and conservation science.
Distinctions/Honours
Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic works (London, United Kingdom)
http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/news/2015/08/international-institute-for-conservation.html
Responsibilities
Senior Research Fellow and Director of the University of Auckland National Conservation Laboratory for Wet Organic Archaeological Materials and 8 satellite conservation facilities throughout New Zealand and the Chatham Islands.
Areas of expertise
- Cultural conservation of wet organic archaeological materials
- New Zealand wetsite conservation/archaeology
- James Jenkins lecture Nelson public lecture http://itson.co.nz/2016/13348-nelson-historical-society-james-jenkins-lecture
Committees/Professional groups/Services
An Assistant Coordinator of the Wet Organic Archaeological Materials International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation (ICOM CC) Paris, France. In 2016 on executive organizing committee for the 13th ICOM CC Wet Organic Archaeological Materials (WOAM) in Florence, Italy. In 2019 on academic committee for the 14th ICOM WOAM Conference in Portsmouth, U.K.
- Founding member of New Zealand Conservators of Cultural Materials (NZCCM)
- Member International Council of Museums New Zealand Aotearoa (Board member 2012 to 2014)
- Member Wetland Archaeological Research Project (Exeter,U.K.)
- Member of Heritage New Zealand - Pouhere Taonga
- Member of New Zealand Archaeological Association
Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)
- Boswijk, G., & Johns, D. (2018). Assessing the potential to calendar date Māori waka (canoes) using dendrochronology. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 17, 442-448. 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.11.030
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Gretel Boswijk - Johns, D., ki Mohua, M., & o Ōtākou TR (2018). Conserving 14th and 15th century canoes in satellite treatment facilities in Aotearoa, New Zealand: ‘Getting by’ down under. In E. Williams, E. Hocker (Eds.) Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference, 125-133. Florence, Italy: ICOM.
- Johns, D. A., Briden, S., Wesley, R., & Irwin, G. (2017). Understanding Aotearoa’s past through the recovery and conservation of a 15th century canoe and fibre work Papanui Inlet, Otago Peninsula. The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 4 (126), 469-494. 10.15286/jps.126.4.469-494
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/40669
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Geoffrey Irwin - Boswijk, G., & Johns, D. (2017). Tree-ring analysis of kauri (Agathis australis) samples from a waka recovered from Muriwai Beach, Auckland. Auckland, New Zealand: School of Environment, University of Auckland.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/39955
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Gretel Boswijk - Boswijk, G., & Johns, D. (2017). Tree-ring analysis of kauri (Agathis australis) samples from a waka recovered from Maioro Beach, Waikato River Delta, Waikato. Auckland, New Zealand: School of Environment, University of Auckland.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/39951
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Gretel Boswijk - Johns, D. (2017). Conserving 14th to 19th century canoes in satellite facilities around Aotearoa, NZ. New Zealand Maritime Museum, Auckland, New Zealand. 6 July - 6 July 2017.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/39774 - Johns, D. (2017). Recovery and conservation of a waterlogged waka and associated taonga from Papanui Inlet, Otago Peninsula. Otakou Marae, Otago Peninsula, Otago. 6 February - 6 February 2017.
- Irwin, G., Johns, D., Flay, R. G. J., Munaro, F., Sung, Y., & Mackrell, T. A. (2017). A review of archaeological Maori canoes (waka) reveals changes in sailing technology and maritime communications in Aotearoa/New Zealand, AD 1300-1800. Journal of Pacific Archaeology, 8 (2), 31-43.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/48432
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Geoffrey Irwin, Richard Flay, Timothy Mackrell
Contact details
- +64 9 923 8580
- +64.9.923.8580
- d.johns@auckland.ac.nz
- djoh011@aucklanduni.ac.nz
- Media Contact
Alternative contact
021 206 4209
Primary office location
HSB - EAST - Bldg 201E
Level 8, Room 849
10 SYMONDS ST
AUCKLAND CENTRAL
AUCKLAND 1010
New Zealand