Story: Historic volcanic activity

Earth oven between layers of ash (2nd of 2)

Earth oven between layers of ash

These stones mark the site of an umu (earth oven) that has been excavated from volcanic ash on the slopes of Mt Taranaki, and carbon-dated at approximately 1500 CE. Many of the stones show the heat fractures that are typical in such oven stones. The umu was overlaid by volcanic ash and lapilli (tiny fragments of lava) from the Burrell eruption, around 1655 CE.

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GNS Science
Photograph by Brent Alloway

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, 'Historic volcanic activity - Eruptions in early history', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6831/earth-oven-between-layers-of-ash (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, published 12 Jun 2006