EXCAVATIONS AT REDCLIFFS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 19

EXCAVATIONS AT REDCLIFFS

Cave Dug Over By Von Haast’s Men Recent digging in the Moa Bone Point cave at Redcliffs has established that the whole cave floor was dug over in 1872 by men employed by Dr. Julius von Haast, said Dr. Roger Duff in a lecture on current excavation operations to the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society last evening. Remains of post butts, found by von Haast’s men, have been rediscovered, and are thought to have been the posts supporting a shelter .built in the cave for arj outrigger canoe—possibly the first canoe to come to the South Island, or even one which came in the last great migration from Hawaiki, Dr. Duff said.

This would make the cave tapu, and could explain why it was not used at all extensively for human habitation. The sand flats outside and to the east of the cave had been used as cooking and general living places, and were therefore a richer source of archaeological material, Dr. Duff said. “But unfortunately, we are too late, as most of the sand flats have been built over,” said Dr. Duff.

Some excavations had been made in the gardens of residents near the cave, making it a case of “archaeology in the backyard.” Dr. Duff’s lecture was illustrated by coloured slides of artifacts found in the cave, and scenes of digging operations.