Site Surveying

Site surveying is a dominant aspect of archaeological fieldwork at the present time. It is largely supported by the Historic Places Trust Archaeological Division. This has not always been the case. In the past enthusiasts both professional and amateur, at their own expense, explored coastlines, rivers, farmland, hills, in fact almost anywhere, in search of archaeological sites. Unpaid site surveying is now very limited. The nature of site surveying has become more systematic in its approach and is motivated in most cases either by a possible threat to sites in an area, or by research objectives or a combination of the two.

F. V. Knapp did not publish site survey reports or fill out site record forms, but for anyone who takes the time to read his papers (now held in the Nelson Provincial Museum Library) there are sites recorded from all parts of Tasman Bay. He mentions, for example, a camp site on the north eastern side of the Motueka River mouth, which was washed away during his lifetime. This is an obvious example of the value of such material for the present day site surveyor.

A number of site surveys have been done since Knapp's work. Wilkes (1960), N. and K. Prickett (1973), Walls (1974 and 1976), and Challis (1978) are the only ones published. Surveys were however undertaken by Don Millar and Jim Eyles in the 1960s, which added to the knowledge of archaeological sites on the east coast of Tasman Bay. It appears that much of this information has not been recorded on New Zealand Archaeological Association site record forms. Aidan Challis' work (1978) on the Motueka region is more than just a site survey. It shows the potential of the type of data which can be gained from a site survey. Wilkes' site surveys also concentrated on the western side of Tasman Bay, while Walls has worked on locating argillite quarries of the Nelson Mineral Belt (see Lithic Studies below). Anderson (1966) also made a survey of back beach deposits around Tasman Bay.

Odd sites, of special interest are sometimes noted in the archaeological literature. Northcroft and Bennett (1964) mention such a site in Tasman Bay (i.e.) a stone wharf on Pepin Island.