DISCOVERY IN SWAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 10

DISCOVERY IN SWAMP.

UNIQUE ANCIENT CARVING. WORK OF PRE-MAORI DAYS. An important addition has just been made to the Maori collections of the Auckland Museum, in the shape of the carved lintel of a house (says the Herald). 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 was discovered in digging a drain at Pukepoto, about half-way between Kaitaia and Ahipara. It was unearthed at a depth of sft, where it was resting in a bed of peat.'

The lintel is nearly Bft in length, and has in its centre the representation of a human figure, showing 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 figure rest upon a perforated frame-work, spreading right and left, the extreme ends of which each terminate in the head of a Saurian-like creature, resembling in some respects the “mitnaia” 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 Svith 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 befpre a tenabie theory can be offered that will explain its origin, and can give a dire to the history of the people who made it. In the meantime it can safely be said that no wood-carving of any size has been found in New Zealand that offers so many problems for discussion. The Auckland Museum is indebted to Mr. D. W. Wilson, of Kaitaia, for information respecting the find, and to Mr. 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. T. F. Cheeseman, curator of the museum, “and if proper investigation were made under scientific direction, important discoveries might be made as to the people of the period.” The find was made during the excavation of an ancient drain, a regular series of which have been revealed by the subsidence of the level of the Awanut Swamp, between Kaitaia and the west coast, as a result of recent drainage. Miles pf these ancient drains have come into view. They appear to have been about sft deep, and sft wide at the top. This is not the first time that the subsidence of peat during the drainage of swamps has revealed drains and other irregularities in the surface of the original level, Some time ago what are believed to be ancient drains, became visible on newly-drained hind near Dargaville, and also on the Hauraki Plains. One of the more important discoveries of the kind was made at Patetonga. As the peat subsided a hillock came into view, and on it was found the charred remains of a Maori pa, in whicji some valuable specimens were obtained. The authorities have r.ot yet come to any decision as to the class of wood out of which the newly-discovered lintel was carved. Microscopic examination will be necessary, owing to the fact that the appearance of wood changes through being submerged in a swamp for a long period. One ef a party who viewed the speci- I men in the museum recently, remark- I ed that it was so unlike Maori work j that it might have been made by