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November 2009
Aim: Explore Maori gardening site with non-intrusive methods
Method: Fluxgate gradiometer
Client: Department of Conservation, Bay of Islands office

A few trenches have been recorded as surface features along the slope. The area was heavily occupied by Maori and the slope is north-facing and ideal for horticulture.

A few possible terraces were recorded on the surface too.

Many more trenches are clearly visible in the geomagnetic survey picture.

In the main area it seems as if the area between the trenches was treated like a raised garden bed.

Fire events and areas - roughly were the possible terraces were recorded on the surface - with soil disturbances indicate a variety of activities that is not visible from the ground surface.

Detailed intrusive small scale investigation will allow creation of an interpretative model of the garden structures in the future.