Searching MoAŌ
You can search the Museum of Archaeology Ōtautahi by archaeological site, location, person, organisation, structure, artefact or archaeological feature.
Searching for an archaeological site
You can search for information about a particular archaeological site by searching for its address or its name (e.g. “Durham Street Methodist Church). You can also search for historic business names, such as “London and Paris House”. Another option is to use the drop-down list to browse different types of sites, such as house or fire station.
Searching for a location
To find out more about a particular location, enter a street name or street address. This will bring up results about any archaeology found at that location. A site’s street address is the address at the time the archaeological work was carried out, which is unlikely to be the same address the section had in the 19th century (details on the history of street numbering in Christchurch) and may not be the same address as currently used. As such, you may want to start with “Colombo”, rather than “550 Colombo”.
Searching for a person
You can search for a person using just their surname, or using a combination of first, second and/or surname. We suggest starting with the surname. If you’re searching for a woman, it’s worth looking for both her maiden and married name. You can also search by occupation, such as merchant.
Searching for an organisation
You can search MoAŌ for organisations such as shops and other businesses, schools, churches or societies, such as the Canterbury Caledonian Society. To do so, simply search by the organisation’s name (or part thereof). You can also search by type of organisation, such as “school”.
Searching for a structure
A structure search is a bit like a site or organisation search, but returns information about the structure itself, such as when it was built and the people associated with it. The best way to search this field is by a structure name, such as “Knox Church”. Another option is to use the drop-down list to browse different types of structures, such as churches or bridges.
Searching for archaeological features
Here you can search for more information about specific archaeological features, such as rubbish pit or drain. You can also use drop down lists to browse different types of features.
Searching for artefacts
Here you can search for different types of artefacts, such as bottles or plates. You can search by different functions (such as household, or food and drink), by form (e.g. bottle), by manufacturer, by product and/or by pattern.
Frequently asked questions
Where did this information come from?
In Aotearoa, the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 protects archaeological sites. If an archaeological site is going to be modified during a project, an archaeological authority must first be obtained from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT). These authorities typically require that the archaeological site is investigated before it is modified, and that a report is written on the archaeological work. Learn more about this process. The data in MoAŌ comes from the reports that have been written as part of this process. The original reports are available from HNZPT’s Digital Library.
The Act defines archaeological sites as a site of human activity prior to 1900, that can be investigated using archaeological methods. Neither MoAŌ nor CAP define archaeological site by the date it was formed.
Is this ALL of the data?
Not even close to it. The freely accessible data on the website does not include all the data from a given archaeological project, and nor does it currently include all of the archaeological projects carried out during the post-earthquake archaeological work in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Further, archaeological work in Ōtautahi continues and we will add this as we can. To access more detailed technical information about the sites you find on the website, sign up for researcher access. We’re currently applying for funding to add data from more projects – sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with new data uploads.
Why is there no data about archaeological sites of interest to Māori?
This information exists, but you will need to contact the relevant rūnanga to access it. Please email us for more information.
Is there any geospatial data?
There is currently no geospatial data available in MoAŌ but we do hold this information and are planning to add it in the future.
Why is there no buildings archaeology data available?
Basically, time and money. This information all has to be extracted from archaeological reports to make it accessible. This takes quite a bit of time, and the data about buildings is particularly complex. As such, we made the strategic decision not to include it in the first round of data entry. This data will be added in the future. Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with additions to MoAŌ, or email us if you’re interested in the buildings archaeology data.
Why are there blank or “unknown” entries in some fields relating to the person or organisation I’ve searched for?
We didn’t carry out any extra research when establishing MoAŌ – we took the information straight from final technical reports. Some of these reports have lots of information about a particular person, place or organisation, but in other cases there will be very little. There are a number of reasons for this, including when the report was written and how relevant that person or organisation was to the archaeology that was found.
Can I add information to this database?
Yes! Please get in touch to discuss the information you have and how we can share it.
I noticed something is wrong – can I correct it?
Yes! Please contact us to let us know.
Is there more information I can access, such as photographs, drawings or notes, beyond what is in the museum?
Yes. As well as this website, MoAŌ has an archaeological archive for each project, consisting of the original field notes, drawings, lots of photographs and other information. Access to this can be arranged by contacting us.
What happened to the artefacts? Can I access them? Can I use them for research or a school project?
The artefacts are currently held in storage and it is possible to access them. Depending on the number of artefacts required, a minimum of 10 days’ notice is required – for larger requests, more time may be necessary. And yes, we’d love you to use them for research or a school project. Please email us to discuss the artefacts you’re interested in.