Difference between revisions of "Fairfield Geoff"

From Archaeopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(Geoff Fairfield)
(Geoff Fairfield)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
Francis Geoffrey Fairfield 1906-1996
 
Francis Geoffrey Fairfield 1906-1996
  
 +
Fairfield was a descendant of Alfred and Eliza Buckland of Highwick fame. Buckland owned property at Buckland’s Beach in eastern Auckland where he had a farm. Fairfield was to have a long term interest in the area, holidaying there in his youth and residing there at the end of his life. He was an amateur archaeologist, with a career as a ground engineer for National Airways Corporation and later as a driving instructor.
 +
 +
He published on archaeology over a remarkable period of 62 years. Of his early publications on the Manukau Heads fishing kit and on the excavations on the summit of One Tree Hill being those of the most permanent value. His Puketutu paper is a pioneering one in the use of aerial photography. The two late books show particularly his interest in geology and its linkage to archaeology. This was a later development in his interests.
 +
 +
Fairfield was a close friend of Dr Richard Taylor, a dentist and later lecturer in physical anthropology at Auckland University. They were friendly rivals on collecting trips looking for artefacts and bird bone deposits.
 +
 +
Jack Grant-Mackie was an executor of his will and contributed information to this piece. Fairfield’s papers are in Auckland University Library and his well documented archaeological collection is in Auckland Musuem.
 +
 +
There are biogaphical snippets in Fairfield's last book.
 
----
 
----
  

Revision as of 22:41, 10 January 2008

Warning! The content of this page has not been verified.


If there are any inaccuracies, please drop a note to the webmaster.

Geoff Fairfield

Francis Geoffrey Fairfield 1906-1996

Fairfield was a descendant of Alfred and Eliza Buckland of Highwick fame. Buckland owned property at Buckland’s Beach in eastern Auckland where he had a farm. Fairfield was to have a long term interest in the area, holidaying there in his youth and residing there at the end of his life. He was an amateur archaeologist, with a career as a ground engineer for National Airways Corporation and later as a driving instructor.

He published on archaeology over a remarkable period of 62 years. Of his early publications on the Manukau Heads fishing kit and on the excavations on the summit of One Tree Hill being those of the most permanent value. His Puketutu paper is a pioneering one in the use of aerial photography. The two late books show particularly his interest in geology and its linkage to archaeology. This was a later development in his interests.

Fairfield was a close friend of Dr Richard Taylor, a dentist and later lecturer in physical anthropology at Auckland University. They were friendly rivals on collecting trips looking for artefacts and bird bone deposits.

Jack Grant-Mackie was an executor of his will and contributed information to this piece. Fairfield’s papers are in Auckland University Library and his well documented archaeological collection is in Auckland Musuem.

There are biogaphical snippets in Fairfield's last book.


Bibiliography

1933 Maori Fish-Hooks from Manukau Heads, Auckland. Journal of the Polynesian Society 42:145-55.

1937 A Necklace of Human Teeth — He Maioha Maukaki. Journal of the Polynesian Society 46:130-33.

1938 Puketutu Pa on Weekes' Island, Manukau Harbour. Journal of the Polynesian Society 47:119-28.

1941 Maungakiekie, One Tree Hill, Auckland. Description of Some Ethnological Discoveries, Journal of the Polynesian Society 50:92-104.

1992 Pigeon Mountain, O Huiarangi, The Birth and Death of a Volcano. Tamaki Eastury Protection Society.

1995 Te Waiarohia o Ngaitai: the Story of the Bucklands Beach Peninsula. Tamaki Estuary Protection Society.