The human power behind the industrialisation

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Some of the most common archaeological finds related to the European settlement of New Zealand during 19th century are usually from residential occupation. Features like rubbish pits, underfloor deposits, wells (brick and artesian), cesspits, soak pits, post holes and drainage … Continue reading →

‘The broken pitcher’

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Today, art is my inspiration, at least as a starting point. The title of this blog post may seem whimsical, but it is both a practical description of our subject today and a reference to the art of centuries past. … Continue reading →

Seddon post-quake rebuild a different story to Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Residents in the Marlborough town of Seddon say they are relieved their post-quake rebuild hasn't been hit by the same delays as Canterbury. Eight months on from the Cook Strait earthquakes, repairs and remedial works are continuing apace in Marlborough.

All Right? Social Media: Facebook Profile Picture 17

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image used as a St Patricks Day profile picture on the All Right? Facebook page. The image reads, "It's all right to feel lucky." All Right? posted the image on their Facebook page on 17 March 2014 at 11:00am.

Transcript of Participant number QB006's earthquake story

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A pdf transcript of Participant number QB006's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Lucy Denham. Transcriber: Lucy Denham.

Transcript of Pat Penrose's earthquake story

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A pdf transcript of Pat Penrose's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Maggie Blackwood.

Gap Filler Project 29: Audio Part 3

Audio, UC QuakeStudies

Part three of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins on Madras Street and includes commentary on the clothing industry in Christchurch before reaching Tuam Street. On Tuam Street, the tour includes commentary on the C1 cafe in the former Post Office building. The tour then moves up High Street to Cashel Street and on to Re:Start Mall.

Frequently asked questions #2

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Continuing on from our last FAQ post, here are the answers to a few more of the questions we face regularly here in Christchurch. 1)      Are you doing this for a school project? Yes, seriously. This gets asked more often … Continue reading →

Christchurch homes sit empty

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Post-earthquake most people would say it was difficult to find housing in Christchurch. But reports suggest that the market has flattened. And terraced housing and apartments are sitting empty. Christchurch Council finance committee chairman, Councillor Raf Manji, discusses future developments like The East Frame.

Life Before Plastic: Final Thoughts

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

All good things must come to an end, and so this post marks the final blog in our Life Before Plastic series (here’s part one, two and three if you’ve missed any). Speaking of endings, today we’re going to be … Continue reading →

Lismore Lodge, Over the Barrel: how the other half lived.

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Most of the work I do as a buildings archaeologist focuses on the humble 19th century cottage. These types of buildings, their construction methods and materials have become well trod territory in post-earthquake Christchurch, meaning we now have a fair … Continue reading →

2019: The Best of The Best

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

The temperatures are heating up, there’s Christmas decorations in shops around the city and we’re on the countdown to summer holidays. In our penultimate blog post for the year we’re going to look back on some of our best artefacts … Continue reading →

Feminine, masculine, grounds for divorce: the social effects of wearing pe…

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

When it comes to personal fragrance (continuing on from our post a couple of weeks ago), exactly which perfumes and deodorants we choose to wear can reveal a lot about us, as individuals and as a society. How we define … Continue reading →

Gin! That aromatic schnapps, that bright moon beam, the Mother’s Ruin…

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Archaeologists and whisky go well together. I agree with that universal truth. However, I fit in the gin lovers team at the office. So, as Jessie did one year ago, I’m writing a post combining two of my favourite things: … Continue reading →

Elizabeth Ackermann Photograph 119

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the Arts Centre taken from the corner of Rolleston Avenue and Worcester Street, in front of the Canterbury Museum. The tip of the building has broken and collapsed onto the ground in front. Tape has been stretched around the street posts.

UC Civil and Natural Resources Engineering Photograph 027

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a fence on the Greendale Fault line which has been damaged by the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The wire has been pulled off the posts and is hanging loose. The ground has also shifted so the fence is no longer straight.

UC Civil and Natural Resources Engineering Photograph 026

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a fence on the Greendale Fault line which has been damaged by the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The wire has been pulled off the posts and is hanging loose. The ground has also shifted so the fence is no longer straight.

All Right? Summerz End Youth Festival Photograph 8

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of an All Right? banner which reads, "It's all right to talk about it." The photograph was taken at the Summerz End Youth Festival 2014. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 7 April 2014 at 6.21pm.

Piles, bones and marbles: what was under the Godleys’ house?

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Way back in the winter of 2012, at the height of the post-earthquake demolition, I was pretty excited to learn we were going to get the chance to investigate the site of John and Charlotte Godley’s house in Lyttelton. John … Continue reading →

The difficulties of dating #2: good things take time

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Following on from last week’s blog, today’s post takes a look at how we date ceramic artefacts, specifically the plates, cups, bowls and saucers we find so often in Christchurch. Many of the issues I mentioned last week with regard … Continue reading →

A Curry Paste Jar, a Keepsake, a Symbol of British Colonialism

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Hello loyal blog readers, welcome back to another year of posts on the history and archaeology of 19th century Christchurch. I thought we’d start the year off by looking back at one of our more interesting finds from the very … Continue reading →

The Cater-Ring

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Following on from last week’s blog post, when we discovered a tea set used by a local 19th century caterer – this time we will take a closer look at what catering may have been like for the Victorians. Prior … Continue reading →

All Right? Social Media: Facebook Cover Photo 10

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image used as a cover photo on the All Right? Facebook page. The image reads, "Three years on... It's all right to be excited about our future." All Right? posted the image on their Facebook page on 18 February 2014 at 3:06pm.

All Right? Campaigns and Projects: Winter Survival Kit Launch Photograph 5

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of All Right? staff members (including Donovan Ryan, left) before putting on their giant 'All Rightie' heads. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook Timeline on 25 July 2014 at 4:01pm with the caption, "And the All Righties (of course)".

Medicating the masses: a wholesale druggist in Edwardian Christchurch.

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

In our last post, Jeremy talked about the site of H. F. Stevens, wholesale druggist, on Worcester Street near Cathedral Square. We excavated the site in 2011 and found a number of artefacts, including the Udolpho Wolfe’s bottles featured last … Continue reading →

In which bottles are used, beer is drunk, and graphic design atrocities ar…

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Over the past two blog posts we’ve been looking at a large assemblage of labelled bottles found under a house in Akaroa. Today on the blog we’re going to take a step back and look at how the bottles travelled … Continue reading →

Resourcing the Canterbury Rebuild: Issues and Outlook

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

This report is the output of a longitudinal study that was established between the University of Auckland and Resilient Organisations, in conjunction with the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), to evaluate the ongoing resource availability and capacity for post-earthquake reconstruction in Christchurch.

All Right? Social Media: Facebook Profile Picture 36

Other, UC QuakeStudies

An image of a Black Caps cricket player, which was used as a profile picture on the All Right? Facebook page during the Cricket World Cup in 2015. All Right? posted the image on their Facebook page on 27 March 2015 at 3:29pm.

All Right? Summerz End Youth Festival Photograph 24

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of festival-goers wearing 'All Rightie' heads. Behind them is the Mai FM van. The photograph was taken at the Summerz End Youth Festival 2014. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 7 April 2014 at 6.22pm.

All Right? Out and About with All Right: Cricket World Cup Profile Picture

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image of a Black Caps cricket player, which was used as a profile picture on the All Right? Facebook page during the Cricket World Cup in 2015. All Right? posted the image on their Facebook page on 27 March 2015 at 3:29pm.