Maungawhau [Mt Eden, R11/17] Hillfort : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map:

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Submitted by DrewParsons on Friday, 13 July 2012 Page Views: 4959

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Maungawhau Alternative Name: Mt Eden, R11/17
Country: New Zealand
NOTE: This site is 1.772 km away from the location you searched for.
Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Auckland Nearest Village: Mt Eden
Latitude: 36.87808S Longitude: 174.764270E
Condition:

5	Perfect
4	Almost Perfect
3	Reasonable but with some damage
2	Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1	Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0	No data.
-1	Completely destroyed

4 Ambience:

5	Superb
4	Good
3	Ordinary
2	Not Good
1	Awful
0	No data.

5 Access:

5	Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4	Short walk on a footpath
3	Requiring a bit more of a walk
2	A long walk
1	In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0	No data.

5 Accuracy:

5	co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4	co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3	co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2	co-ordinates of the nearest village
1	co-ordinates of the nearest town
0	no data

5

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Maungawhau or Mt Eden is the site of a Maori fortified settlement comprising 127 terraces, 134 pits, 34 middens, 4 elongated earthen mounds, 5 banks, 4 stone heaps and 1 stone wall.

Maungawhau sits atop the largest volcanic cone in Auckland and was one of the three largest pa (hillfort) and settlement sites across the region. The volcano has extensive terracing cut into its sides where settlement houses were built and other activities undertaken. The cut and fill terraces had steep scarp faces which acted as defensive features and at the same time provided a slightly wider area for the settlement around the upper parts of the slope. Terraces are found close to the summit on the southern side of the main crater as the lower slopes were too steep for habitation whilst proximity to the summit and its defensive palisades gave security to the inhabitants.

Across the north side of the main crater is found a flat area where the chiefly inhabitants lived. This can be seen in the photograph opposite. Between this plateau and the northern part of the site are found some deep kumara pits where sweet potato and other foods would have been stored. These pits were covered with pole and thatched roofing but would need redigging every few seasons to avoid fungal infection of the crops stored therein. Consequently there are many filled in pits around the terraced areas. The extant pits are seen as you follow paths around the site.

A water reservoir has been constructed in the area where Te Maraeikohanga, the settlement's marae or meeting place and ceremonial area, once stood whilst on a knoll to the north of the main site there are stone alignments used to retain soil and it is here and at the summit car park that archaeological excavations have been undertaken. It is possible at present for cars to be driven up to the summit of the volcano from where the whole site can be viewed together with grand views across the region. Paths lead to the various archaeologically interesting parts of the site too.

References:
Bulmer Susan, Sources for the Archaeology of the Maaori Settlement of the Tamaki Volcanic District, Science & Research Series No.63, Department of Conservation, Wellington, 1994.

Friends of Maungawhau website: http://www.maungawhau.co.nz/resources/archaeology.html

Auckland Council webpage on Mt Eden: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/projects/mteden/default.asp

Maungawhau Mt Eden Management Plan, Auckland Council, 2007: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/documents/managementplans/mteden/docs/final.pdf

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