But for archaeologists and historians one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the city for years is an opportunity to dig deep into the early settler history of Ōtepoti Dunedin .
A talk organised by the Southern Heritage Trust aims to provide updates on what has been discovered so far.
Central city project director Glen Hazelton said many exciting finds had already been uncovered beneath the surface during the very visible road works and rehabilitation of heritage infrastructure, which aimed to keep servicing the city for another 50 to 100 years.
The talk would explore questions including rumours of tunnels under the streets, how the project was avoiding delays when archaeological remains were found, and what these remains revealed about the history of the city.
Dunedin was fortunate that the reclamation was yielding treasures from the wealthy to ordinary folk, and provided a rich source of history of the early days of European settlement, he said.
New Zealand Heritage Properties principal archaeologist India Gillespie said one of the more interesting artefacts uncovered during work along Filleul St was a three-ringed barrel shaped decanter, colourless and free blown, with incised grapes and cloud patterns.
The decanter was potentially rather old, with similar ones manufactured throughout the eighteenth century.
This was further corroborated by the rings on the collar being applied rather than moulded.
However, the earlier design was imitated by later manufacturers in the nineteenth century, so stylistically the date of the decanter could not be confirmed and possibly the decanter was carefully transported to New Zealand by a nostalgic settler, she said.
Totally Gorgeous Archaeology:
What Lies Beneath Dunedin’s Main Street?
Central city project director Glen Hazelton.
NZ Heritage Properties archaeologist India Gillespie
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga archaeologist Nikole Wills
Wednesday, April 26. 5.30pm. City Library, floor 4.
Free entry.
