Old Carvings Found Buried At Tikorangi

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1942, Page 2

Old Carvings Found Buried At Tikorangi

Ancient pieces of Maori art unearthed in swamp. Excellent specimens of Maori craftsmanship, a veritable treasure trove for a student of Maori history, forming a valuable link with the past, were unearthed recently during draining operations at Tikorangi. The specimens included a magnificent example of Maori carving, evidently part of the front of an important whare of an ancient Maori pa. Carved out of a solid block of totara, about seven feet long, 14 or 16 inches wide and about five inches thick, it shows perfect Maori craftsmanship. There are five carved figures, all oi which are different. Foui are complete, and in perfect condition, showing careful attention to detail, the eyes being shown, and on one figure the five toes being distinctly shown. The carving that links the figures shows the delicate delineations that were a feature pf the ancient Maori craftsman's art. In a ledge left at the back of the carving there are two square holes, and a square is cut out in the centre, so tliat the carving could be tied to the building it was to adorn, Five Staves Discovered. There were also found at the same time five staves about six feet six inches long, one of which is intact. Of very light wood and deep grey in colour, it is perfectly rounded, is about five inches in circumference at its widest part, and has a smooth finish that could not be ex•AVAWW/WWWAWUWftWJ

celled by the expert craftsmen of to-day with modern tools. Each stave has a knob at the top, while at the foot for four or five inches the stave has been squared off to provide a flat surface about one and ahalf inches wide, the back being concave. Four of the staves were broken in several plaees. There were also found at the same time two pieces of heavy wood about 18 inches long and roughly four inches by three inches, one of which was still covered with bark. The discovery was made by Mr. L. A. Alexander on his property near the Manukorihi golf links while he was draining a swamp, The carving, with the staves on top of it, was covered with about two feet six inches of soil, having sunk nearly to the stone bottom. When carefully cleaned of mud by Mrs. Alexander the carvings were found to be in an excellent state of ■ preservation, though probably they had been thrown in the swamp more than 100 years ago. Nearby is a Maori fortified pa or redoubt known as 'Pinchgut," so named by the Bushrangers during the Maori War because they were on short commons there. It is considered that when the Maoris had to leave the redoubt on being attacked by northern Maoris they threw the carvings in the swamp to hide them, intending to return later and retrieve them. Mr. W. H. Skinner, New Plymouth, considers, from a description of the carving, that it had probably adorned one of the elevated Whares in which valuable mats and clothing were stored. The swamp has not yet been completely drained, and it is possible that other treasures may be found. Waitara and the surrounding district have contributed much to a knowledge of early Maori art.