Workers have uncovered many unusual old-fashioned objects in a disused Wellington well - including a porcelain doll's head with one blue eye still perfectly painted despite years of being buried underground.
More dolls' heads, a glass inkwell, a china elephant with a little girl riding on top and an early ginger beer bottle were among other oddities discovered during the Victoria St transformation work happening in Wellington, the city council said.
The largest doll's head, which along with its one staring eye, still had remarkably rosy cheeks. It was thought to be the top of a tea cosy, said archaeologist Sarah Phear.
Ms Phear has begun assessing the finds and says the well that revealed the most interesting artefacts was in an area of Te Aro where several schoolrooms were located from the 1850s.
"These school buildings could explain the collection of little china dolls' heads that were found," she said.