What Lies Beneath

2011 · 30m · Documentary

In this eight-part series, Simon Dallow takes viewers on a journey back in time to the earliest stages of Maori and Pakeha occupation of New Zealand. Along the way he'll debunk myths, solve riddles and shed new light on our collective beginnings. Investigating ancient immigrant communities and prehistoric natural disasters, What Lies Beneath will bring a whole new perspective to New Zealand's past.

Episodes

▶1. Signs of the Tsunami30m · The Boxing Day tsunami had many of us wondering 'could it happen here?' Geologists and archaeologists argue that it already has. Tonight they uncover evidence waves several times bigger than those that hit Sri Lanka may have wreaked havoc on coastal Maori settlements hundreds of years ago.▶2. Secrets of the Swamp30m · Swamps and wetlands can be places of mystery, dense and forbidding. But these hidden corners can be treasure troves for archaeologists. Join Simon Dallow on an archaeological exploration deep into a Bay of Plenty swamp cloaked in mystery - a catastrophic moment frozen in time, that provides a rare window into 17th century Aotearoa.▶3. Mysteries of the Crypt30m · Under Auckland's Bastion Point lies a labyrinth of tunnels built in the 1880s as part of the city's defences. It's also the last resting place of one of New Zealand's most revered Prime Ministers - or is it? Join Simon Dallow as he explores beneath Bastion Point in an effort to solve the mystery of the final resting place of a Prime Minister.▶4. Secrets of the Gunfighter Pa30m · ▶5. The Missing Miners30m · In the late 1800's thousands of Chinese gold seekers were lured to our shores, by the promise of easy pickings in the desolate claims of Central Otago. But today, there are very few physical signs of these pioneers and often it falls to archaeologists to uncover evidence that they were here at all. Join Simon Dallow as he delves into the mystery of the Missing Miners.▶6. Searching for the First Coasters30m · At the mouth of the Buller River, archaeologist Richard Walter is excavating a site that dates from the archaic period of New Zealand's human history. This is a time when the artefacts they find still represent a Polynesian culture. The remarkable array of unearthed adzes and fishing lures suggest these early Coasters already knew much about the resources available to them in this newly settled land.▶7. Under Wellington30m · Construction of Wellington's controversial Inner City Bypass will destroy an historic part of Te Aro. But first, the largest urban archaeology project ever undertaken in New Zealand will record and preserve as much of the past as possible. Join host Simon Dallow as he gets a rare glimpse of nineteenth century working class life.▶8. In Search of the Good Keen Whalers30m · Simon Dallow joins a team of archaeologists who have converged on one of the best preserved whaling stations from the 1830's whaling boom. Beneath the sand and driftwood they have unearthed several trypot stations where the blubber was rendered down. It provides a remarkable picture of the harsh life endured in one of our first truly integrated communities.

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