Relics from 1800s found at brewery site

Emerson's will not just be brewing fine ales from its new Dunedin site, it will also be showcasing pieces of the city's history unearthed during excavation.

From alcohol and perfume bottles, to ceramics and pipes, a range of artefacts will be displayed when the brewery opens next year.

Jackie Gillies Associates principal archaeologist and heritage consultant Dr Andrea Farminer said the site had been identified, before excavation started, as having hidden artefacts. Hundreds of salvageable items had been found.

"It's quite a find.

"We've basically cut right to the heart of the late 19th century reclamation material."

Much of the city's rubbish was used to reclaim the land at the beginning of the 1890s, Dr Farminer said.

"We've found amazing amounts of bottles ... ceramics, personal items, combs, brushes ... tooth brushes ... lots of footwear ... so we knew what they were eating, what they were wearing and ... a lot about their social background as well.

"Pretty much every machine bucket load that came out was stuffed chocka full of ... this material.

"It's an amazing find."

Most of the items found were thought be from the late 19th century but it was hard to put an exact date on some.

In terms of monetary value, nothing was worth much, she said.

"This is people's rubbish.

"This is very much the everyday [items]," she said.

Emerson's Brewery founder Richard Emerson said he was not surprised items had been found but finding things intact had been "more than amazing".

"We'll be quite proud to showcase them in our new brewery for the people to see what the history was beneath them while they're having a beer," Mr Emerson said.