Did you know they even existed?
To make it easier, there is a website that will make it easier to access and read this information.
The Heritage New Zealand newsletter featured news on the revamped Archaeological Reports Digital Library:
"The digital library contains over 7500 reports dating from the 1950s until today, with more reports being added all the time.
This is one of the most important sources of archaeological information about places in the country, and a huge repository of information that will be of interest to many people including researchers, landowners, legislators, iwi, archaeologists, local authorities – and those interested in learning more about our amazing archaeological heritage. Images of kōiwi have been redacted from the reports.
The revamp of the library has made it more accessible, speedy, modern, and user-friendly. Users can now download the reports instead of emailing to request the reports they wanted.
The online library will be available to anybody who has access to the internet around New Zealand and the world, with the information available 24/7."
What's available?
1. Visit the online Archaeological Reports Digital Library
2. Browse or search different categories. Using the Term THAMES found over 440 results.
This can be further refined to Thames-Coromandel to reduce the number of reports related to other districts.
3. Click on reports of interest, and you are taken to a page where you can download the report.
The one below is for "Cook Landmarks at 'The Thames' (New Zealand), November 1769" by David Wilton.
Maybe you are interested in mining sites, then Neville Ritchie's report: A Survey of historic mining Sites in the Thames and Ohinemuri areas of the Hauraki Goldfield: Section 1 is worth a read.
What about learning about the midden site at the Tararu Cemetery? Read Tararu Cemetery: Final Report on Archaeological Monitoring at T12/942 and T12/1375 by Beatrice Hudson.
There is an interesting one on historic sites Tapu to Thornton Bay:
Tapu-Thorntons Bay Site Survey West Coast Thames
| Identifier: | Diamond2 |
| Title: | Tapu-Thorntons Bay Site Survey West Coast Thames |
| Author(s): | Diamond, Larryn |
| Year Published: | 1976 |
 |
| Western end of Sealey Street, Thames |
Many of the reports have been prepared by Dr Caroline Phillips, well known for the work done monitoring sites at Thames Hospital when the new wings were constructed. One in the list relates to the earthworks done at the western end of Sealey Street. Maybe you remember the talk of a possible burial ground.
Whats available via the New Zealand Archaeological Association site?
This is another site you can gain information on Thames, a search reveals several articles that can be downloaded, also I have found others can be requested via the contacts given.
One that makes excellent reading is:
Nineteenth-century European cemeteries in Thames By Dr N Twohill, and it can be downloaded.
ABOVE: Shortland Cemetery 1870s, from Dr Twohill's report.
Its hard to even imagine this scene, given the overgrown trees that exist on the hill today.
Closing Comments:
Which ever site you use, explore the papers/reports on offer and learn more about the archaeology of the Thames District.
Background Reading:
Dr Caroline Phillips - Waihou Journeys (2001)
