VALUABLE NATIVE RELIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2339, 8 October 1921, Page 4

VALUABLE NATIVE RELIC.

CARVED BONE PENDANT.

PRESENTED TO MUSEUM,

An interesting addition to the Auckland Museum has just been made in the form of a carved hone pendant, probably made by the same race that carved the lintel found at Kaitaia recently, says the Auckland Herald. While many noteworthy additions have been made to the museum during the last six months, it is doubtful whether any single article is more interesting in its singularity of shape and delicacy of carving than this pendant, which has been presented by Mrs Lushington, of Mahurangi Heads. The pendant, which possesses many distinctive characters, was picked up nearly 25 years ago during a yachting voyage made by the late Mr -Lushington and some friends along the'eoast of the North Auckland Peninsula. Leaving the yacht in Whangamumu Harbour, the party crossed the narrow neck of land which separates it from the bay to the southward, at the head of which stretched a long line of sand hills. On reaching these, it was found that easterly gales had removed a large part of the sand, revealing the existence of ancient Maori kitchen middens and cooking places, and also exposing numerous human bones, almost perfect skeletons being laid out with the bones in their natural positions. It was while crossing this ridge that one of the party picked up the pendant, which apparently had only, just been uncovered.

The article is of small size—barely more than (tin. in length —but the excellence of its carving and its ornamental character generally are at once apparent. Few people can examine it without wondering what tools and other appliances were used to carve it from the solid bone of which it is made. It consists of a thin, slightly-curved, but nearly flat, base, each margin of which is cut into carved projections, each one with a tooth in the centre, thus forming two chevron patterns. At the upper and broader end are two human figures placed back to back. Down the centre of the article runs a row of upright projections'similar to those of the sides, and equally delicately carved.

“In character and general excellence of design there is no Maori bone pendant known that approaches this one,” said Mr T. F. Cheeseman, curator of the museum.' “Two figured by Mr A. Hamilton in Maori Art (plate 47, figures 1 and 2) approached it in some respects, but are not nearly so linely and delicately carved. The article has little or no resemblance to modern Maori carving. In the chevron pattern along the sides, however, there is an undoubted resemblance to the design of the now famous lintel from Kaitaia. May not both be the work of the ancient Maruiwi —a race long antecedent, to the Maori?”