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Understanding the role of climate change, resource availability, and population growth in human mobility remains critically important in anthropology. Researching linkages between climate and demographic changes during the short... more
Understanding the role of climate change, resource availability, and population growth in human mobility remains critically important in anthropology. Researching linkages between climate and demographic changes during the short settlement history of Aotearoa (New Zealand) requires temporal precision equivalent to the period of a single generation. However, current modeling approaches frequently use small terrestrial radiocarbon datasets, a practice that obscures past Māori population patterns and their connection to changing climate. Our systematic analysis of terrestrial and marine 14 C ages has enabled robust assessments of the largest dataset yet collated from island contexts. This analysis has been made possible by the recent development of a temporal marine correction for southern Pacific waters, and our findings show the shortcomings of previous models. We demonstrate that human settlement in the mid to late 13th century AD is unambiguous. We highlight initial (AD 1250 to 127...
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Abstract: With rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns and an increased incidence of severe weather events being predicted as a result of global climate change, the Department of Conservation commissioned a study to determine... more
Abstract: With rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns and an increased incidence of severe weather events being predicted as a result of global climate change, the Department of Conservation commissioned a study to determine the potential impacts of these effects on New Zealand’s archaeological sites, which are mostly located near the coast. A Geographic Information System (GIS)-based case study examined the distribution of archaeological sites in the Whangarei District and assessed the risk to the archaeological resource primarily from sea level rise associated with future climate change. The results of the analysis are fairly conclusive. Currently, the major threats to archaeological sites in coastal areas are erosion, flooding and ground instability, and some sites are at risk from more than one of these threats. Approximately one-third of the recorded site locations in the Whangarei District are potentially threatened by these hazards, regardless of any future clim...
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OverviewMachine learning (ML) is rapidly being adopted by archaeologists interested in analyzing a range of geospatial, material cultural, textual, natural, and artistic data. The algorithms are particularly suited toward rapid... more
OverviewMachine learning (ML) is rapidly being adopted by archaeologists interested in analyzing a range of geospatial, material cultural, textual, natural, and artistic data. The algorithms are particularly suited toward rapid identification and classification of archaeological features and objects. The results of these new studies include identification of many new sites around the world and improved classification of large archaeological datasets. ML fits well with more traditional methods used in archaeological analysis, and it remains subject to both the benefits and difficulties of those approaches. Small datasets associated with archaeological work make ML vulnerable to hidden complexity, systemic bias, and high validation costs if not managed appropriately. ML's scalability, flexibility, and rapid development, however, make it an essential part of twenty-first-century archaeological practice. This review briefly describes what ML is, how it is being used in archaeology t...
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Climate change-related hazards to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and potential effects have been recently updated in New Zealand's National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) (Bodeker et al. 2022, Ministry for the Environment [MfE] and... more
Climate change-related hazards to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and potential effects have been recently updated in New Zealand's National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) (Bodeker et al. 2022, Ministry for the Environment [MfE] and Statistics NZ 2020). Risks cascading from rising sea-levels, increasing weather events, shifting patterns of precipitation, increased flooding, land instability, and erosion are encapsulated within the climate emergency. Absent from risk calculations are the effects on cultural heritage and on archaeological sites specifically (Bickler et al. 2013, Law 2021). Although archaeology and cultural heritage are mentioned, the scope remains narrow with a focus on natural heritage.
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Background to the Aotearoa/New Zealand Radiocarbon Database. The database reports more than 4100 radiocarbon ages, information on the archaeological context, and bibliographic links. Public access to the online viewer is via the Waikato... more
Background to the Aotearoa/New Zealand Radiocarbon Database. The database reports more than 4100 radiocarbon ages, information on the archaeological context, and bibliographic links. Public access to the online viewer is via the Waikato Radiocarbon Laboratory webpage (https://radiocarbondating.com/Research/nz-radiocarbon-database).
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This paper illustrates how new techniques of machine assisted learning (ML) can be used to extract useful information from historical plans for archaeological research. Historically collected data can be leveraged by ML, going beyond... more
This paper illustrates how new techniques of machine assisted learning (ML) can be used to extract useful information from historical plans for archaeological research. Historically collected data can be leveraged by ML, going beyond standard georeferencing and manual digitising procedures (see McCoy 2017). The paper presented here is on the easier end of the spectrum – finding the location of pā sites recorded in the 1920s based on textual labels and specific symbols. We argue combining this data with light detection and ranging data (LiDAR) adds another way to confirm the information contained in historical maps and extends the ML approach even further. We demonstrate the combination of data from LiDAR and historical geological maps from 1920-30s based on research by Hartley Travers Ferrar still provides a way to find important places in the past to preserve them for the future. Brook and Ferrar (2019:54) state “Ferrar’s geological legacy is ongoing”, but it is perhaps unexpected that this extends to archaeological survey especially in the Auckland and Te Tai Tokerau regions relating to both Māori and European family history. Ferrar’s maps remain a useful snapshot of the social geography of these places and are a major resource for heritage professionals. Advances in GIS and related disciplines have only increased the value of these and other historic plans allowing archaeologists to continue Ferrar’s interest in exploring the natural and cultural heritage landscapes in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
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The rapid pace of new technologies provides methods to rethink how archaeological sites and features are recorded during excavations in Aotearoa/New Zealand. We describe in this paper our experience with using a hand-held LiDAR scanner... more
The rapid pace of new technologies provides methods to rethink how archaeological sites and features are recorded during excavations in Aotearoa/New Zealand. We describe in this paper our experience with using a hand-held LiDAR scanner built into some of the more recent generations of Apple iPad Pros and iPhones. Archaeologists in Aotearoa/New Zealand have also been using LiDAR technologies on a range of scales from large scale regional surveys (see Bickler and Jones 2021), and on individual sites (see e.g., Emmitt et al. 2021).The LiDAR scanning used by these studies has, however, relied on expensive terrestrial and airborne tools that require expertise to achieve good results. They are effective across larger areas, but difficulties in scanning small or irregularly shaped sub-surface features can be challenging, with the bottom of features sometimes not well defined. Conversely, handheld scanners offer the potential to provide good records of such features in a cheap and affordable manner. The results integrate well within the site-recording workflows of most modern archaeological excavations, especially in the context of CRM projects (Bickler 2018:81ff). These technologies can revolutionise our workflows and become a key tool in the fight against the impacts of climate change on the archaeological record.
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Northland has over 12,000 archaeological sites recorded in the NZAA ArchSite database with around half, including earthwork features, related to Maori history. These include pa, pits, and terraces. Other sites such as stone structures,... more
Northland has over 12,000 archaeological sites recorded in the NZAA ArchSite database with around half, including earthwork features, related to Maori history. These include pa, pits, and terraces. Other sites such as stone structures, sod walls, tracks, ditches, and drains representing both more recent and longer-term landscape history are also present, identifiable, and recorded using LiDAR data. Although it is relatively easy to identify many of these archaeological sites and features using LiDAR, as we have previously discussed (Jones and Bickler 2017, 2019), the challenge is to scale up this process to search regions to allow for a landscape interpretation and reconstruction. As the Northland LiDAR is now becoming available, we have been working on using GIS to develop Machine Learning training data specific to the identification of these earthwork sites. We present our latest attempts to scale up the identification of archaeological sites in the forested areas of Te Tai Tokerau and determine the most effective Machine Learning tools for New Zealand archaeologists.
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Humans have been traversing the world’s oceans for at least 50,000 years. For archaeologists interested in prehistoric seafaring, computer simulation has proven a useful method for investigating the challenges and strategies used in the... more
Humans have been traversing the world’s oceans for at least 50,000 years. For archaeologists interested in prehistoric seafaring, computer simulation has proven a useful method for investigating the challenges and strategies used in the past. However, a number of barriers have inhibited wider adoption of the simulation approach. We present a prototype for a flexible voyaging simulation to model prehistoric seafaring. Combining freeware technologies in GIS, statistics, and agent-based modelling with open source datasets, our simulation is capable of testing hypotheses ranging from drift to directed voyaging across the globe, at comparable or higher resolution than previous studies. A case study from the Pacifc is offered which demonstrates some of the capabilities of the system. In time, we hope to introduce this as a tool for researchers worldwide to explore questions of prehistoric oceanic voyaging.
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This important discussion about the use of radiocarbon to set up a narrative of temple construction on Hawai‘i arises from a recent paper published in Antiquity (2011: 927–41). It compares Bayesian and non-Bayesian solutions, and has... more
This important discussion about the use of radiocarbon to set up a narrative of temple construction on Hawai‘i arises from a recent paper published in Antiquity (2011: 927–41). It compares Bayesian and non-Bayesian solutions, and has implications that reach far beyond the Pacific.
Research Interests: Archaeology and Antiquity
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Examines the proper naming of archaeological sites in New Zealand's Archaeological Association national database following the digitization of the paper database into a web based service. The collection of names in the database is a... more
Examines the proper naming of archaeological sites in New Zealand's Archaeological Association national database following the digitization of the paper database into a web based service. The collection of names in the database is a unique and valuable resource for future research.
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Machine learning (ML) is rapidly being adopted by archaeologists interested in analyzing a range of geospatial, material cultural, textual, natural, and artistic data. The algorithms are particularly suited toward rapid identification and... more
Machine learning (ML) is rapidly being adopted by archaeologists interested in analyzing a range of geospatial, material cultural, textual, natural, and artistic data. The algorithms are particularly suited toward rapid identification and classification of archaeological features and objects. The results of these new studies include identification of many new sites around the world and improved classification of large archaeological datasets. ML fits well with more traditional methods used in archaeological analysis, and it remains subject to both the benefits and difficulties of those approaches. Small datasets associated with archaeological work make ML vulnerable to hidden complexity, systemic bias, and high validation costs if not managed appropriately. ML's scalability, flexibility, and rapid development, however, make it an essential part of twenty-first-century archaeological practice. This review briefly describes what ML is, how it is being used in archaeology today, and where it might be used in the future for archaeological purposes.
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Discusses Health and Safety for Archaeologists working in New Zealand
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Examples of data mining of New Zealand and Australian newspapers are shown an introduction to how such data can be used to inform historic archaeology projects in New Zealand. Petchey (2006: 59ff) identified some of the early... more
Examples of data mining of New Zealand and Australian newspapers are shown an introduction to how such data can be used to inform historic archaeology projects in New Zealand. Petchey (2006: 59ff) identified some of the early hydroelectric plants in Central Otago which are just one example of the industrial heritage of New Zealand (Smith 2001), but there has been little work on the smaller artefacts associated with the arrival and use of electricity in New Zealand. The newspapers research provides an opportunity to explore other broader themes motivated by the chance find of the Leclanché batteries from the Alfred Nathan House in central Auckland. Digital humanities approaches to such datasets open up new opportunities to explore the social history of material culture found in New Zealand on a local, regional, national and international scale from the 1840s through to the present. Even relatively well-known objects such as aerated water bottles can be used to yield information regarding the New Zealand’s colonial and post-colonial contexts with a focus not only on what was written but in what was left behind (c.f. Deetz 1977:161).
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Archaeology in New Zealand is generating ever-increasing amounts of data and information relating to all manner of the heritage, but it is not being systematically captured. All could benefit from expansion of the scope of current... more
Archaeology in New Zealand is generating ever-increasing amounts of data and information relating to all manner of the heritage, but it is not being systematically captured. All could benefit from expansion of the scope of current databases, creation of new databases and improved integration. As digital data are now the main outcome of many CRM projects, the curation and sustainability of that data is a major priority.
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This paper builds upon the work of Jones and Bickler (2017) which examined the potential for LiDAR to assist in the recording and heritage management of archaeological sites in New Zealand. Here we explore multi-scalar approaches... more
This paper builds upon the work of Jones and Bickler (2017) which examined the potential for LiDAR to assist in the recording and heritage management of archaeological sites in New Zealand. Here we explore multi-scalar approaches targeting archaeological features of varying sizes across typical terrain and under variable vegetation types. The reasons for this work include the difficulty of access to large areas of New Zealand either because they are remote and less likely to be developed or they remain under some form of dense vegetative coverage which may be difficult to characterise without detailed vegetation clearance. Such areas often contain archaeological sites that are difficult to locate and map in detail even when the archaeological features are large. LiDAR’s advantage, from an archaeological perspective, is that the terrain models generated can be examined using semi-automatic and machine-aided methods which are scalable for local and regional surveys. In the context of New Zealand archaeological survey, LiDAR data follows on from the highly successful aerial photography approaches undertaken by archaeologists such as Kevin Jones (Jones 1994, 1996, 2002; Jones and Tanner 2002; see also Gorbey 1967). LiDAR provides complementary information from aerial and satellite imagery, and modern techniques often combine the data from multiple sources for archaeological survey. We describe here work undertaken to identify new archaeological sites of Māori origin in the Waikato.
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Machine Learning techniques used to identify 19th Century transfer-print ware ceramics from New Zealand archaeological sites.
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Describes using machine learning techniques for identification and analysis shell midden from archaeological sites in New Zealand
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Describes the excavation of site R11/2379 in Mangere, Auckland. The results uncovered a prehistory Maori hamlet on the banks of the Puhinui Creek catchment. R11/2379 appeared to be mid-size habitation site, larger than the majority of... more
Describes the excavation of site R11/2379 in Mangere, Auckland. The results uncovered a prehistory Maori hamlet on the banks of the Puhinui Creek catchment. R11/2379 appeared to be mid-size habitation site, larger than the majority of small campsites in the area, but probably only for a small group, perhaps one or two families at a time. Interestingly, the location of site would have provided no defensive options with the pre-mangrove waters allowing rapid access by canoe, and the flat terrain easy to cross by foot. Despite its vulnerability from raiding, the pits demonstrate that it was worthwhile bringing food to the site for longer periods, from the gardens either close to the settlement or perhaps further away in more fertile soils, without much fear of loss of the resource.
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In the course of mitigation of earthworks associated with residential development at Omaha, 249 middens were recorded and investigated. Dates range from about AD 1400–1700, placing the occupation and use of Omaha firmly within the late... more
In the course of mitigation of earthworks associated with residential development at Omaha, 249 middens were recorded and investigated. Dates range from about AD 1400–1700, placing the occupation and use of Omaha firmly within the late phase of prehistory. The middens contained very little other than shell, and we interpret their use as a combination of industrial scale shellfish processing and formal gatherings. The economic analysis of Omaha is fairly straight forward, but we also offer a socially oriented explanation to account for aspects of the archaeology that clearly are not economic.
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The whole of Point Britomart in central Auckland was taken apart and moved by horse and cart and dumped in the sea during the late 19th Century. As the available earth ran out, the area was turned into rubbish dump for the nearby... more
The whole of Point Britomart in central Auckland was taken apart and moved by horse
and cart and dumped in the sea during the late 19th Century. As the available earth ran out, the area was turned into rubbish dump for the nearby industries. The large collection of artefacts recovered suggests that many of the nearby industries used the fill as a way of disposing of their everyday rubbish. The paper describes excavations of the reclamation.
The reclamation resulted in the dismantling of the Gore Street Jetty and some of the earliest part of the Queen Street Wharf. The decking was removed although, for the most part, the piles were left in situ. Excavation of the piles of the Queen Street Wharf revealed that the original section of the wharf was probably smaller than what was built later as the piles were smaller than those used later. Finally, the reclamation provided a platform to build the new 1885 Railway Station.
and cart and dumped in the sea during the late 19th Century. As the available earth ran out, the area was turned into rubbish dump for the nearby industries. The large collection of artefacts recovered suggests that many of the nearby industries used the fill as a way of disposing of their everyday rubbish. The paper describes excavations of the reclamation.
The reclamation resulted in the dismantling of the Gore Street Jetty and some of the earliest part of the Queen Street Wharf. The decking was removed although, for the most part, the piles were left in situ. Excavation of the piles of the Queen Street Wharf revealed that the original section of the wharf was probably smaller than what was built later as the piles were smaller than those used later. Finally, the reclamation provided a platform to build the new 1885 Railway Station.
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Discusses issues relating to the use of geophysical techniques for archaeological in New Zealand archaeology
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The quality and availability of LiDAR data offers new opportunities for archaeological investigation in New Zealand. These datasets exist for numerous locations across New Zealand, several of which have been captured by local government.... more
The quality and availability of LiDAR data offers new opportunities for archaeological investigation in New Zealand. These datasets exist for numerous locations across New Zealand, several of which have been captured by local government. Access to these datasets is often available as a by-product of environmental, ecological, civil and survey work which occurs on land developments, and can enhance the quality of archaeological assessments and surveys. We discuss the utility of LiDAR for known archaeological sites, not only emphasising its ability to locate sites by providing a lens into difficult terrain, but also illustrating how the data can generate new maps, update existing site plans, boundaries and locations. Modelling the 3-D component of archaeological locations is also linked to LiDAR’s ability to form a high-resolution DEM (digital elevation model). This paper examines case studies to demonstrate LiDAR’s capabilities for both new and previously recorded sites, such as the Auckland pa – providing a case study of automatic feature extraction of Maori storage pits through hydrological and machine learning techniques. Where multiple LiDAR coverages exist, DEMs of different time periods can be calculated allowing quantitative measurement of landscape change, useful for developing risk management tools.
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Archaeological investigations of Auckland’s early industries, combined with detailed contextual historic research, have shown that there was an interplay between government agency and private enterprise in transforming Auckland’s... more
Archaeological investigations of Auckland’s early industries, combined with detailed contextual historic research, have shown that there was an interplay between government agency and private enterprise in transforming Auckland’s physical, social and economic landscape, both urban and suburban, in the 19th and early 20th century, as well as bringing to life some of the individual agents of this transformation. A real strength of CRM archaeology is its ability to range widely through urban and surrounding landscapes, almost randomly selecting and investigating the heritage mosaic, at times capturing simple acts revealing personal beliefs and lifestyles, at others highlighting industrial concerns, or defence provisions, or city infrastructure, or large-scale landscape modifications such as government reclamations. While the archaeological investigations of their enterprises and entrepreneurial families makes each of their stories unique, the entrepreneurs discussed here are typical of thousands of people who created small to medium sized enterprises around the globe during the 19th century. They exemplify the story of the creation and spread of the modern middle classes in the industrialised world, and the extent to which individual entrepreneurs have transformed the physical, social and economic landscape.
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... famous by Bronislaw Malinowski (1922) and described in almost all introductory anthropology textbooks, continues to operate in Milne Bay Province ... the stone arrangement had been dug into the natural clay base, which was completely... more
... famous by Bronislaw Malinowski (1922) and described in almost all introductory anthropology textbooks, continues to operate in Milne Bay Province ... the stone arrangement had been dug into the natural clay base, which was completely devoid of stone debitage, implying that ...
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... There is no expansion of human settlement to match the colonization of the Pacific islands, from Island Southeast Asia right across to Hawaii, Easter Island and down to New Zealand. The expansion is given an extra interest ...
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The results of chemical and petrographic analysis of 184 potsherds from 42 Early Period sites on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea are described. The sites are located from the Gulf of Papua down to Yule Island and Port Moresby. In... more
The results of chemical and petrographic analysis of 184 potsherds from 42 Early Period sites on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea are described. The sites are located from the Gulf of Papua down to Yule Island and Port Moresby. In analysing the material an exploratory approach using multivariate statistics creates "source" groups of sherds whose distribution in Early Period sites can then be examined for evidence of trade and exchange. The research establishes the presence of local and long distance pottery networks in these areas between 1900 and 850 cal BP. The evidence suggests that pottery exchange from the Yule Island sites to the Gulf took place simultaneously with the earliest local pottery manufacturing around Yule Island. From around 1400 cal BP on, Yule Island potters were joined by Port Moresby potters in moving their wares to the Gulf.
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The results of chemical and petrographic analysis of 184 potsherds from 42 Early Period sites on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea are described. The sites are located from the Gulf of Papua down to Yule Island and Port Moresby. In... more
The results of chemical and petrographic analysis of 184 potsherds from 42 Early Period sites on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea are described. The sites are located from the Gulf of Papua down to Yule Island and Port Moresby. In analysing the material an exploratory approach using multivariate statistics creates "source" groups of sherds whose distribution in Early Period sites can then be examined for evidence of trade and exchange. The research establishes the presence of local and long distance pottery networks in these areas between 1900 and 850 cal BP. The evidence suggests that pottery exchange from the Yule Island sites to the Gulf took place simultaneously with the earliest local pottery manufacturing around Yule Island. From around 1400 cal BP on, Yule Island potters were joined by Port Moresby potters in moving their wares to the Gulf.
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Page 1. Archaeol. Oceania 37 (2002) 22-36 Megaliths of Muyuw (Woodlark Island),Milne Bay Province, PNG SIMON H. BICKLER AND BAIVA IVUYO Abstract Archaeological survey on Muyuw (Woodlark Island) in the Massim ...
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A guide to Cultural Resource Management in New Zealand. Designed for NZ-based archaeologists.
Cover, Table of Contents and Bibliography uploaded (see www.bickler.co.nz)
Cover, Table of Contents and Bibliography uploaded (see www.bickler.co.nz)
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With rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns and an increased incidence of severe weather events being predicted as a result of global climate change, the Department of Conservation commissioned a study to determine the... more
With rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns and an increased incidence of severe weather events being predicted as a result of global climate change, the Department of Conservation commissioned a study to determine the potential impacts of these effects on New Zealand's archaeological sites, which are mostly located near the coast. A Geographic Information System (GIS)-based case study examined the distribution of archaeological sites in the Whangarei District and assessed the risk to the archaeological resource primarily from sea level rise associated with future climate change. The results of the analysis are fairly conclusive. Currently, the major threats to archaeological sites in coastal areas are erosion, fooding and ground instability, and some sites are at risk from more than one of these threats. Approximately one-third of the recorded site locations in the Whangarei District are potentially threatened by these hazards, regardless of any future climate change effects. Climate change will exacerbate existing coastal hazards, and increase the likelihood and severity of impacts on archaeological sites. An additional 2.5-10% of archaeological sites might be afected by increased threats due to predicted changes in climate, including rising sea levels. The types of sites that are most likely to be affected in the Whangarei District are coastal midden and small habitation sites relating to Māori occupation. Although these could be afected by all three of the major hazards identifed, they are particularly susceptible to coastal erosion. Land stability issues and fooding are likely to affect a greater range of sites, including larger sites such as pā and sites relating to early European settlement. It is not possible to quantify the risk to sites from increased land instability as a result of global climate change, but it is noted that any increase in extreme weather events would not be confined to coastal areas. These sites potentially hold significant information relating to the history of both the district and New Zealand. The implications of the study are that coastal sites are already under considerable threat, and that important archaeological information is being lost at a rate that may increase significantly in the future. Action is needed now to protect or retrieve the information from significant sites under threat in coastal areas before these sites disappear completely.