Students survey gardening areas close to Tamawera Pa
After six days of digging we finally got our first day off, with a fantastic sleep in till 7:30am! Our great Pa adventure started at 10 am where we were driven to the outskirts of Tamawera Pa. While waiting for the second load of people we practiced rock art survey and some cow dialect in order to connect with the landscape. Our gentle walk started with a near vertical hike up to the garden complexes of the Pa. Rock alignments and terraces covered the whole area, stretching down to the other side of the hill. Some amazing observation skills noticed a water worn rock out of context, which was explained as a possible religious shrine such as the ones found on Hawaii.
Tamawera Pa
After lunch, and skimming stones on the beach, a few brave souls started the next climb to the top of the Pa. Without a clear path scaling the Pa face was a challenge. Avoiding stone face terraces, gorse and sheep poo added to the complication. However the view at the top was well worth it! Sights extending from Whitianga to Little Barrier Island set the scene and looking at the scale of the site put into perspective just how populated the island must have been. It has made the work we have been doing seem a lot bigger than previously thought.
The panoramic views from the Pa were amazing and we took the opportunity to stage a few amateur photo shoots. We took our time exploring the area; drinking up the history and listening to our supervisors express their thoughts and ideas on the area. The size of cultural features such as storage pits, possible housing platforms and the stone face terraces lead into discussions surrounding hypotheses of subsistence, warfare and general living of Maori in pre-European times. All in all an amazing learning experience.
After a good five hours of walking, learning and climbing we missioned back to enjoy wonderfully refreshing swim in blue crystal waters on a beach of white sands. We finished the day off with an amazing roast dinner and mouth-watering apple crumble. With a good night sleep we should be well prepared to get back into the swing of things bright and early Monday morning.
– Rebecca and Francesca