Tracks and Traces: an archaeological survey of railway construction related sites on the Otago Central Railway

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is the archaeology of workers’ camps associated with the Otago Central Railway. The railway was begun in 1880 and completed in 1920. Using the historical record in conjunction with remote sensing and site survey, this thesis separates sites related to the construction of the Otago Central Railway from those involved with the everyday operation and maintenance of the line. Eight sites are investigated using a two site type model to determine whether a site was a Public Works Department site or that of a private contractor. The research has shown that Public Works Department camps were situated in the most favourable locations, while those of the private contractors’ were located as near to the work at hand as possible.