DISCOVERY IN SWAMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2269, 28 April 1921, Page 4

DISCOVERY IN SWAMP.

UNIQUE ANCIENT CAR VINCI. WORK OF PRE-MAORI DAYS. An important addition lias just been made to the Maori collections ' of the Auckland Museum in the shape of the carved lintel of a house: The workmanship differs widely from that of any other specimen in the museum, and, so far as is known, cannot be matched in any other collection in New Zealand. | The carving (says the Herald) was 1 discovered in digging a drain at : Pukepoto, about half-way between Knitaia and Ahipara. tl was unearthed at a depth of sft., where it was resting in a bed of peal. The lintel is nearly Bft. in length,

and has in its centre the representation of aJmrnan figure, sliowing a broad wedge-shaped head with projecting ears, small broad nose, and large oval mouth with small tongue. The body is small, short, and squat —in fact, the stout five-toed legs appear to almost spring out of the base of the head. The outstretched hands of the human ligure rest upon a perforated framework, spreading right and left, the' extreme ends of which terminate in the head of a Saurian-like creature, resembling in some respects the “martaia” of the Maoris, but carved in an entirely different manner. At the foot of the carving is a broad slab, evidently intended to form the top of the doorway, and supplied with the usual square holes to carry the lashings. It is highly remarkable that the carving shows such a small resemblance to ordinary Maori, work. On the contrary, it gives the impression of Melanesian influence, dating back to pre-Maori times. But much inquiry and many comparisons will be required before a tenable theory can be offered that will explain its origin, and can give a due to the history of the people who made it. In the ..meantime it can safely be said that no wood-carving of any size Ifas been found in New Zealand that offers so many problems for discussion. The Auckland Museum is indebted to Air D. AAh Wilson, of Kaitaia, for information respecting the find, and to Air J. T. Clark for entering into negotiations which have resulted in the purchase of the carving for the museum. “I look upon this as one of the most important finds of recent years,” said Mr F. T. Cheeseman, curator of the museum, “and if proper investigation were made under scientific direction, important discoveries might be made a> to Ihe people of the period." The find was made during the excavation of an ancient drain, a regular series of which has been revealed by the subsidence of (lie level of llie Awanui SrVamp between Kaitaia and the west coast, as a result of recent drainage. Miles of these ancient drains have come into view. They appear to have been' about sft. deep, and off. wide at the top. This is not the first time that the subsidence of petti during the drainage of swamps has revealed drains and other irregularities in the surface of tho original level. Some time ago what are believed (o be ancient drains became visible on newly-dra-ined land near also on the IlaurakFPlains. One of the more important discoveries of the kind Wits made at Patelonga. As the peat subsided it hillock came into

view, and on it was * found the charred remains of a Maori pa, in which some valuable specimens were obtained. The authorities have not yet come (o any decision as to the class ol wood out ol which the newly-dis-covered lintel was carved. Microscopic examination will be neces,>arv, owing to the fact that the appearance of wood changes tlirmig'i being submerged in it swamp f.or a long period.

One of a party who viewed ihe specimen in the museum remarked dial it was so unlike Maori work Hint il might have been made ny M>mc “faker." “You cam discard ‘hat theory," remarked an a fit holily, “because there i> no odist in New Zealand who could make such

a unique and artistic piece. Ibe theory, however, had not been mode seriously.