A major foundation-strengthening project at the historic Department of Conservation building on Napier's Marine Parade has revealed a glimpse of the past.
Bits of shells from meals on fires, chips of kauri, home-made nails, old cigarette packets and a newspaper dated April 15, 1916 have been unearthed.
While some would probably regardsome of the items found as just old bits and pieces, to the staff at the DoC building (the old courthouse) - and particularly to Napier heritage consultant Elizabeth Pishief - they are important insights into the history of Hawke's Bay.
Ms Pishief was alerted to what was being uncovered beneath the building by DoC staff who had heard from workmen carrying out earthquake-strengthening work.
So she decided to see for herself. "I had to go under there," she said.
"It was a bit scary at times because it is very confined under there, but it was fun."
What made it fun was piecing together the times which dated a series of eras.
DoC project manager Pat Sheridan was equally fascinated, and he too donned the overalls to squeeze under and take a look.
"We were sitting on what amounted to be a time capsule," he said, adding he was pleased Ms Pishief had the expertise to "unravel some of the mysteries".
The old courthouse had been built in 1874/75 and there was evidence of the original native timber shavings which had been planed on site, along with cut-offs of kauri timber and home-made nails.
A newspaper dated 1916 and other items from that period, including old cigarette packets, fragments of clothing and even an old broom, were uncovered.
Moving on 15 years, and pieces of plaster had been shaken from the walls of the building during the 1931 earthquake and were found during the foundation work.
"Some of it may have been swept through holes in the floor that was damaged by the earthquake," Ms Pishief said.
Old documents and notebooks associated with the work of the various departments located in the old courthouse during the early to mid-1950s were also found.
She said although some items might appear insignificant they were part of the city's, and the region's, history.
"Left there by people ... it is all part of our heritage."
There were no immediate plans on where to house the items found, although Ms Pishief said they were likely to be returned to DoC. A couple of pieces were significant enough to merit more examination.
