Burials, artefacts hide underneath
A development that promises to bring New Plymouth as many as
1000 new homes is also certain to uncover a treasure trove of artefacts.
The 100 hectare block between Wills Rd and Airport Dr in Bell Block, dubbed ‘‘Area Q’’, is a former battle site, coastal burial ground and contains wetlands known to have been storage for wooden Ma¯ ori artefacts.
On Monday Anaru Wilkie, of Puketapu Hapu¯ , briefed workers and New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) employees on the cultural significance of the area in preparation for the construction of a sewerage pipeline across the land. The pipeline is the first step in preparing the land for residential development.
‘‘Our pa¯ has been occupied for more than 1000 years. There are more than 3000 bodies buried here,’’ Wilkie said.
‘‘Life essence resonates from the area and we’d rather you know beforehand.’’
NPDC released plans to develop the area, which would accommodate another 1000 new homes, in
2013 as an answer to ease housing demands.
But because the land was a known war site and was inhabited by Ma¯ ori and Pa¯ keha¯ , local hapu¯ and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) had to survey the area to outline areas of archaeological importance.
The Bell Block area is situated in the centre of the Puketapu Hapu¯ rohe (boundary) and contains a large number of recorded prehistoric archaeological sites with three pa¯ sites located on or near the banks of the Waitaha Stream.
The proposed sewer line will follow the stream, inland from State Highway 3, and end at the proposed Area Q pump station about 430 metres inland from the coastal sea cliffs.
To help workers understand the likelihood of uncovering human remains, Kenny Trinder of Puketapu Hapu¯ said: ‘‘I’ve come across four skulls, leg bones and rib bones.’’
Project archaeologist Ivan Bruce recorded archaeological sites in close proximity to the proposed pipeline, which meant there would be strong possibility of uncovering artefacts such as wooden carvings or human remains.
‘‘You are literally in the most important part of New Plymouth in regards to burials.’’
Bruce said ‘‘it is reasonable to expect that archaeological evidence relating to the prehistoric land use in the periphery of these sites may exist’’.
In the event that human remains are encountered, the project will halt and the remains will be cordoned off while NPDC enter into consultation with Puketapu Hapu¯ representatives.
‘‘If you’re in doubt whether or not it’s human bone, assume it is human bone,’’ Bruce said.