MOA BONES FOUND
Lyttelton Tunnel Discovery
Moa bones, which appear to be part of a full skeleton, were discovered last week by workmen in the soft clay near the Heathcote portal of the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel. The clay is composed of glacial dust. The assistant-director cf the Canterbury Museum (Mr E. G. Turbott) said yesterday that the bones already discovered suggested that they belong to a medium-sized moa. which would have stood about seven feet.
The remaining bones will be excavated during the next few weeks.
Examination of the bones bv Mr R. J. Scarlett, of the Canterbury Museum, have shown that all the bones are from the same moa. but the exact species has not yet been ascertained. Mr Turbott said there was nothing to show whether the moa died on the spot where the bones had been found or whether it had been washed there.
The bones already excavated have been added to the museum's collection of moa bones from the Canterbury area. Any more bones found will also" be added to this collection.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CI, Issue 29824, 17 May 1962, Page 16
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176MOA BONES FOUND Press, Volume CI, Issue 29824, 17 May 1962, Page 16
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