Moa-hunters’ Drawings Found On Coast Road

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29716, 9 January 1962, Page 10

Moa-hunters’ Drawings Found On Coast Road

Cave drawings of historical significance have been found in a limestone outcrop on the West Coast road between Porters Pass and Arthur’s Pass. Dating from the time of the moa-hunters, the drawings are the first evidence of a trans-alpine journey by these people. Mr A. L. Fomison, file keeper for the New Zealand Archaeological Association's historic site survey scheme in Canterbury, found the drawings on the undercut surface of a limestone outcrop on Castle Hill sheep station, while inspecting Maori sites in the area last week.

Six well-preserved drawings were found, ranging in height from 18in to Tin. Three depict birdmen. one a human form, another a hybrid creature and another is a linear design. The drawings are thought to be associated with hunting rites and could also have been connected with some form of ancestor warship. The birdman form was widely used in Polynesian culture, said Mr Fomison. ax hunting was a major form of subsistence and birds were an important prey. The drawings were probably made by hunters who had moved into high country after moas when most of these birds had been killed on the plains. Mr Fomison said. Archaic Phase The drawings, done in charcoal, belonged to the archaeological period of Maori culture known as the archaic phase before the 1830’s, Mr Fomison said. After this period, with the coming of the fleet and the introduction of agriculture, Polynesian culture in New Zealand showed a marked change. This period, after the 1930’5, was known as the classic phase, Mr Fomison said. It was not until the classic phase that colour was used in cave drawings. The remnants of other drawings were found by Mr Fomison in other undercut slopes of the hill, but the surfaces of the walls had flaked badly. The six drawings found in the one area were well preserved under a film of lime solution. How they were drawn, either directly ’with a stick of charcoal, or with a composite of charcoal and fat or oil, is not known. Mr Fomison has done exploratory surveys of cave drawings in several areas. More than 180 caves or shelters with drawings have been found in South Canterbury which, he said, was one of the most important areas in N»w Zealand for the studv of Polynesian art. He has made a survey of the drawings in this area for the South Cantertxiry regional committee of the National Historic Places Trust before the fencing and preservation of the sites. Mr Fomison a next task in connexion with this work is to trace and photograph the drawings in Sou'h Canterbury. The drawings, which will be traced on to polythene with grease crayons, will be given to the Canterbury museum, which is sharing the cost of the project with the Trust.