HUMAN BONES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18410, 17 June 1925, Page 8

HUMAN BONES.

DISCOVERY AT ARAPUNI. (SPECIAL TO "IHK PRESS.") WELLINGTON, June 16. Human bones have been uncovered ill tile course of tho excavations on "the power-house site at Arapuni. They were discovered high up on tho cliif iaco, of the gorge, over a hundred ieert. beneath the upper level. The remains are clueny long' lunb bones, arid tneir discovery is reported uy Air C. A. Moore, of Pataiuru. •'\Jne wonuers," ho writes, "if the bones are those- of a race or people piejxaori in origin, iieruaps' pre-nisu>no cave dwellers, who at some early period (by eartnquakes or volcanic disturbances" have been overwhelmed. On examining tho bones, one hnda them dec/ply grooved by muscles and tenuous witn aonormaliy weii-developed traction epiphysis tmarKings maue by the movement of muscles over the bones). This proves that the people to whom they belonged were a well-built muscu-r lar race, and, as tho bones show by their length, remarkably tall. One thing, however, which is hard to explain, is why no skull bones have as yet been discovered. That the bones are of a pre-historio people is a reasonable hypothesis, based on the locality of their discovery and the depth at which they lay. However, I intend to send them to Dunedin, with a full account of the location, etc., asking that a report be made. At present we have the tact of the bones being there rigjrt in the heart of the rock centuries old. Anybody with any imagination at all must conjure up visions of the- people to whom they belonged, and wonder what grim tragedy of the past led to their burial in sach an unusual tomb. Further investigation after the removal of more of the cliff face may bring forth more data to work on, and at present I am keeping a keen look-out for implements or shaped flint tools and weapons.'*