Finding Ada: archaeological investigations of a 19th century suffragist site
Underground Overground Archaeology's 2018 excavations at Ada Well's family home on Mays Road provide an insight into her domestic life.
Ada Wells was a prominent Christchurch suffragist. She founded the Canterbury Women's Institute, was the first national secretary of the National Council of Women of New Zealand, and was the first woman to be elected to the Christchurch City Council.
In this talk archaeologist Clara Watson speaks about excavations that were carried out by Underground Overground Archaeology at the site of Ada Wells' home and what the artefacts tell us about her life.
You will also have the chance to see some of the artefacts from the dig on display at Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House.
Clara Watson is an archaeologist and artefact specialist and works for Underground Overground Archaeology, an archaeological consultancy based here in Christchurch. She spends her days cataloguing the artefacts found on European archaeological sites in Christchurch and looking at what they can tell us about the daily lives of the colonial settlers of Canterbury.
New Zealand Archaeology Week runs from 22nd – 30th April
Tickets
$5
Image credits
Ada Wells portrait: Star (Christchurch), Issue 11996, 2 May 1917, Page 6
Archaeology photos: Clara Watson, Underground Overground Archaeology