Urupukapuka Island 2011

The field school was held on Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands.

The fieldwork during January included geophysical survey, geomorphological survey, and test excavations aimed at better defining the history of land use on Urupukuapuka Island. Student of the field school (ANTHRO 317) learnt aspects of excavation, electronic survey, 3D laser scanning, finds processing and data management. Students and staff carried out laboratory analyses of excavated materials including midden remains, stone artefacts, wood charcoal, sediment and archaeological features. These investigations uncovered archaeological evidence for gardening and some domestic activities, and geological evidence for the relative stability of the coastline of Urupukapuka Bay over the period of human occupation.

The 2011 University of Auckland field school was hosted by the Northland Archaeological Project (NAP) on Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands. This field season was led by staff from the University of Auckland the University of Otago including Mark McCoy (University of Otago), Thegn Ladefoged (University of Auckland), Rebecca Phillipps (University of Auckland), Alex Jorgensen (University of Auckland and Rod Wallace (University of Auckland).