EXCAVATIONS AT MOA BONE CAVE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 8

EXCAVATIONS AT MOA BONE CAVE

Plans Made For Start

The first clearing of soil for the large-scale excavation of the Moa-bone Point cave at Redcliffs will be done by local volunteers on January 13, according to a circular issued by the Canterbury Museum. Guest diggers of the New Zealand Archaeological Association will arrive about a week later to take part in the digging. The present phase in the examination of the cave was started earlier this year by Mr Selwyn Hovell, on behalf of the museum. He showed that the previous excavations of Sir Julius von Haast and Alexander McKay had left a large area untouched, and found a wide range of perishable artifacts, such as wood and textiles, addition to the more durable stone artifacts.

Apart from the possibility of distinguishing a* lower moahunter layer from a later classic Maori layer, the association regards the project as a suitable training exercise in modern methods of systematic excavation which are just becoming known in New Zealand.

Most of the members of the association will arrive on January 19, and they will join forces with local diggers on January 20. The working timetable will be seven hours a day, from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. They may be extended or reduced if necessary. Electric power has been laid on at the cave, for lighting and boiling water for tea. The excavations are planned for a fortnight.