Explore Canterbury’s history

Discover artefacts and stories dating back to 1854 from over 466 archaeological sites throughout Canterbury.

Search for people, places, objects, and organisations here.

About

Find out more about the Museum of Archaeology Ōtautahi.

Help

Learn more about how to search MoAŌ and check out the FAQs.

Research

Find out more about the data we used and getting researcher access.

CAP and MoAŌ

Created by the Christchurch Archaeology Project (CAP), the Museum of Archaeology Ōtautahi democratises our city's history. Since 2011, a group of dedicated archeologists has worked across hundreds of sites in Canterbury, researching and carefully cataloging thousands of once lost artefacts and their stories. This significant dataset is now preserved digitally and is open to the public, ensuring the stories of our past remain accessible to all.

The archaeologists behind the artefacts

Christchurch Archaeology Project (CAP) is a team of archaeologists with two things in common, a passion for archaeology and Canterbury’s history. Having grown up in Canterbury, they know how special our region is. They’ve dedicated the last 12 years to researching and preserving our history so we can better understand those who came before us and the world we live in today.

Learn more