Sandy Bay
Contents
Sandy Bay, Enderby Island, Auckland Islands
Summary
The excavation was at three locations along the bay. There was little evidence of the form of occupation other than cooking activities and some artefact manufacture.
There is evidence for the exploitation of fur seal, sea lion, possibly elephant seal, some fish, little shellfish, a variety of sea birds and one land bird.
The site has been extensively C14 dated using a variety of materials and a case can be made for some duration, or re-occupation. However "This might have begun in the early 13th century, but the best estimate is probably late 13th to late 14th century..."(Anderson 2009:29).
Location and Date
The site is one of the best landing sites on the island group, being a soft shore and relatively sheltered. There is local firewood and a stream.
There were two excavations, in 1998 and 2003.
Type
Beach settlement site with midden.
Excavators
Atholl Anderson
Field Crew: Steve Bagley, Kevin Jones, Nigel Prickett, Geoff Walls, Chris Edkins, Mana Stratton
Post excavation analysis: Ian Smith, Richard Walter, Rod Wallace,Katherine Szabo, Alan Tennyson
Artefacts
Basalt and chert flakes were the only artefacts reliably associated with the prehistoric settlement. Other European originated material was found but is intrusive or clearly later. Some earlier surface collecting had been connected to the 1840s Maori / Moriori settlement in the locality but some is possibly from this site, including a marine mammal ivory fishhook.
Publications
The primary publication is Anderson 2009 [1] See also the appendices in the same volume.
References
- ↑ Anderson A, 2009 Prehistoric archaeology in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand subantarctic region. pp 9-37 in Dingwall et al, 2009.
Web Resource
The Mystery Islands of South Polynesia Bibliography of Prehistoric Settlement on Norfolk Island, the Kermadecs, Lord Howe, and the Auckland Islands [1]
Bibliography
Anderson, Atholl J. "Subpolar Settlement in South Polynesia." Antiquity 79.306 (2005): 791-800.
Anderson, Atholl J., and Gerard R. O'Regan. "The Maori Archaeology of Southern Rakiura." Southern Margins Project Report. Dunedin: Ngai Tahu Development Report, 1999.
Anderson, Atholl J., and Gerard R. O'Regan. "The Polynesian Archaeology of the Subantarctic Islands: An Initial Report on Enderby Island." Southern Margins Project Report. Dunedin: Ngai Tahu Development Report, 1999.
Anderson, Atholl J. Prehistoric Archaeology in the Auckland Islands: New Zealand Subantarctic Region. Wellington: Dept. of Conservation, 2003. 28p.
Anderson, Atholl J., and Gerard R. O'Regan. "To the Final Shore: Prehistoric Colonisation of the Subantarctic Islands in South Polynesia." Australian Archaeologist: Collected Papers in Honour of Jim Allen. Canberra: Australian National University, 2000. 440-454.
Dingwall, Paul, Kevin Jones and Rachael Egerton (eds) 2009 In Care of the Southern Ocean, NZAA Monograph 27. [2]
