Uni artefacts stir curiosity
Could it have been an accident in Ernest Rutherford’s chemistry lab? Or perhaps a clumsy university student after a few beers?
Archaeologists unearthed buried treasure under the Christchurch Arts Centre in the city centre during restoration, including glass from the old University of Canterbury chemistry building on the site. The university was based at the site from 1873 to 1974.
The shattered glass, alongside intact bottles and a decrepit boxing glove, are on display at the university’s Teece Museum’s latest exhibition, Buried Treasure, which opened on December 3.
Museum and Logie Collection co-curator Terri Elder said the exhibition would run over summer and was family-friendly.
‘‘Our aim was to introduce people to what archaeology is, what archaeologists do and show them that they don’t necessarily spend all their time just scrabbling round in the dirt,’’ Elder said.
The exhibition showcases items from across Earth’s historical spectrum. A large ammonite fossil sits at the centre of the Teece Museum, aged between 65 and 70 million years old. Nearby, neolithic stone tools estimated to be between 6000 to 8000 years old are mounted behind safety glass.
A ceramic pyxis retrieved from a tomb in Cyprus and estimated to be about 4000 years old is Elder’s favourite piece in the collection. The bowl-like relic would most likely have been used as a container for cosmetics or incense and is one of the best specimens of its kind in the world.
During the Arts Centre restoration, Elder said the buildings became archaeologically interesting and staff from Underground Overground Archaeology worked their way through the site.
‘‘Bit by bit as each new building has been tackled, they’ve been finding new objects along the way,’’ Elder said.
A plethora of items were found, Elder said, some of which were on display at Buried Treasure.
Under the old gymnasium, a leather boxing glove was found. Barely held together by strings and fibres, Elder said extreme care was taken to keep it intact.
‘‘We also have a seal jaw, which was found in the biological sciences building. The thought is it was used by biology students.’’
It was the glass from the original chemistry building that sparked particular interest among the historically minded.
‘‘Although it is all broken, for us it is very exciting. It was located in a rubbish pit in the north quad, but for us the really cool thing is it might just have been the kind of glass Ernest Rutherford would have used when he was studying here,’’ Elder said.
Rutherford studied at Canterbury College, as the university was once called, from 1890.
About 9500 people have come through the museum since they opened in May.
"[Archaeologists] don't necessarily spend all their time just scrabbling round in the dirt."
Logie Collection co-curator Terri Elder