Heritage Talk - Hartley Ferrar's Archaeological Legacy

Photos of Hartley Travers Ferrar (left) as a geologist on the 'Discovery' during Scott's British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904; (right) undertaking soil surveys in Central Otago c.1928.

Talk date: 23 April 2025.

How Ferrar's geological maps remain relevant to modern archaeologists

Bill Edwards talked about the series of geological maps of Northland that Hartley Ferrar and his team produced which are so significant for archaeologists today. Not only do these maps identify the unique geological features of the region, Ferrar and his team also had the foresight to record archaeological sites, including pā sites, battle sites and Māori place names – information which today would be difficult to identify without these maps.

Photos above of Hartley Travers Ferrar (left) as a geologist on the 'Discovery' during Scott's British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904; (right) undertaking soil surveys in Central Otago c.1928.

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Hartley Ferrar's Archaeological Legacy by Bill Edwards

Photo of Bill Edwards.

About Bill Edwards

Area manager for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga in Northland, Bill Edwards is a trained archaeologist with a long-time interest in history and the past lives and beliefs of people.