The Central Library in Auckland is hosting an event day for National Archaeology Week. See below for details of two events:
A HeritageTalk for National Archaeology Week
Wednesday 2 May, 12 noon – 1pm
Whare Wānanga, Level 2, Central City Library,
44 Lorne Street, Auckland
Based on his book of the same name, David Veart will look back on a lifetime’s interest in archaeology starting (illegally) aged 9 with his mother’s garden trowel in a shoreline midden in Onehunga and describing his 25 years working for the Department of Conservation ending as the Auckland Area Heritage Manager.
While the main theme of the talk will be the archaeology of Auckland, work in places as diverse as Roman London and Niue will also be described and everything from moa ovens to the hidden aircraft at North Head will get a mention.
Archaeology is the study of humanity from the things we have left behind and we leave lots so there will be a little bit of almost everything.
Dave Veart’s biography
Originally Dave Veart trained as a lawyer and went on to teach in New Zealand and the UK. On his return to New Zealand in 1980 he retrained as an archaeologist and worked in that capacity until 2013 for both the NZ Historic Places Trust (Heritage New Zealand) and the Department of Conservation.
In 2008 Auckland University Press published his history of New Zealand cookery, First Catch Your Weka which went on to become a double finalist in the Montana Book of the Year awards. A second book on archaeology for children, Digging Up the Past was also successful winning an Honour Award at the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards in 2011. He has contributed to a history of Auckland’s engineering heritage, Evolving Auckland with chapters on Auckland’s coastal defences and the Auckland gas companies.
In 2012 he was awarded a NZ Copyright Licensing Ltd award to write a history of toys in New Zealand, Hello Girls and Boys which was published in 2014.
Booking not essential, but to ensure your place, book with Central Auckland Research Centre, 09 890 2412 or book online: https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/pages/event.aspx?EventId=2677
Using 3D laser scanners to visualise and help preserve Auckland’s lava caves with Peter Crossley
Wednesday 2 May 1.30pm-2.30pm
Whare Wānanga L2 Central City Library
44 Lorne Street, Auckland
The Auckland lava caves are between 500 and 50,000 years old. They are not big in world standards but they were used by moa to fall into, Maori as burial caves and later as suburbia overtook the isthmus by Aucklanders as rubbish holes or nasty things which delayed developers. Our techniques for recording the caves have changed astronomically over the decades from sketch pads to the latest computer toys. This talk will be a wide ranging journey through the different techniques and changing values used to preserve their interesting parts of our heritage.
Peter Crossley’s bio
Peter has been exploring and documenting Auckland’s lava caves for 50 years. This was coupled with the fortune of joining the Auckland University as a technician in Geography, now Environment. Part of the work included geology and cave studies. Since retiring he is now almost full time liasing with other cave researchers and enthusiasts to preserve the caves from being destroyed.
To book please phone Central Auckland Research Centre 09 8902412 or book online: https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/pages/event.aspx?EventId=2897