Current Research: Australasia
Reported by Susan Piddock s.piddock@ozemail.com.au
(Spring 2008 SHA Newsletter 40[4])
New South Wales
Cumberland St Archaeological Survey Sydney (submitted by Russell Gibb)
During June, a laser-scan survey of the Cumberland Street archaeological site in The Rocks, Sydney was undertaken by Russell Gibb and Dan McCurdy from Geometria. The entire site was scanned from multiple angles to ensure complete scan coverage of all the excavated features. Scans were also taken of the surrounding buildings to provide contextual information pertaining to the historic precinct. In all, over 95 scans comprising approximately 900 million points were surveyed and a separate photographic archive was recorded. The data is currently being modeled and will be provided to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority in a variety of formats and resolutions for its archaeological interpretation and education center that will be constructed on the site as part of the Youth Hostel development. Information about the project is available at www.geometria.co.nz.
New Zealand
Waganer Subritzky Estate (submitted by Russell Gibb)
A team consisting of conservation architects from Archifact Limited, archaeologists from Geometria, landscape historians, and object conservators have been working on the Waganer Subritzky Homestead (1860) located at Houhora in the far north of New Zealand. The homestead is one of the earliest buildings in the region and is currently undergoing conservation. Investigative works at the site include interior and exterior laser scans of the homestead and associated buildings, and site surveys and mapping of the historic gardens. Laser scanning was particularly useful for recording the original blacksmith’s building, which sits inside a protective shed that was constructed around the original structure to protect it from further degradation. Geophysical surveys were used to identify potential archaeological features such as historic tunnels and the original external cellar, and an archaeological assessment of the site has been compiled. A conservation plan developed by Archifact will soon be implemented at the site. As part of the proposed works an archaeological investigation will be undertaken at the homestead.
