A visiting United States archaeologist has labelled Harbour Cone a world-class area that needs to be studied and protected, as the Dunedin City Council sits to consider the management of the land.
New York State Museum curator of historical archaeology Emeritus Prof Charles E. Orser jun visited the site as part of a field trip during last week's Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology annual conference in the city.
Prof Orser said he was "totally blown away by the whole area", and the people of Dunedin were fortunate to have it so close to home.
"The building ruins and the landscape that surround them are unparalleled for their state of preservation, their extent, and for their beautiful location."
A draft management plan for the 328ha property, bought by the Dunedin City Council in 2008, will be considered at a hearing tomorrow.
The plan called for an intensive archaeological assessment of the whole property, which contained 42 known historical sites and structures.
Prof Orser's research interests lie in social theory, including the archaeological analysis of social inequality, and his studies have taken him to Ireland, where his focus was Irish and Irish American cultural life in the 19th century.
He said yesterday some kind of heritage zone needed to be set up at the site, to make it safe from any development or earthmoving.
"Without question, this is a world-class landscape that should be studied and protected for future generations.
"I was absolutely delighted to have had the opportunity to visit it, and I encourage the city council to investigate the region further as long-term insurance for the preservation and protection of this important landscape."
The preservation of what he described as "wonderful" stone buildings and walls was essential.
He had seen a lot of places in a lot of different countries including those he had worked on in Ireland.
But archaeologists and historians had an opportunity here to study the early settlement of an area that looked romantic "but must have been a hard place to live".
"It shows people the strength of the human spirit."
Prof Orser suggested a thorough investigation of what was in the area, including the use of ground-penetrating radar.
His comments were expected to be included in a submission at the hearing.
