The Sweet Potato Factory - An Archaeological Investigation of the Pouerua Cultivation Landscape

Abstract

Pouerua is a volcanic cone at the centre of a large archaeological landscape in the inland Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand. The volcanic cone has been extensively modified by Maori in the past, and the surrounding landscape shows similar levels of widespread modification.

The results of the field surveys and the investigation of the horticultural features indicated that the horticultural landscape at Pouerua was not one large development but rather a series of smaller constructions that overlapped and abutted one another.

The interpretations of the horticultural data were used to investigate whether temporal and spatial change could be identified in the surviving horticultural systems.

The results of the investigation of both the individual horticultural features and the horticultural systems was used to investigate how the cultivation landscape at Pouerua related to the numerous pa and kainga in the area.

The results of this study suggest that the horticultural aspect of the Pouerua landscape underwent a series of changes in a similar vein to the pa and kainga within the same area.