MUSEUM OF NATURE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31659, 20 April 1968, Page 5

MUSEUM OF NATURE

The Moa-Hunter Maori And His Ornaments

(■Contributed by the CANTERBURY MUSEUM)

There are many artifacts displayed in museums throughout the world labelled “Ornament, Artifact of Unknown Origin, Fertility Symbol,” etc, a system which might cause some confusion to the general public, but much of this can disappear when it is realised that ornaments are divided into two broad classes: pendants which are worn purely for decorative purposes, and amulets which have some magico-religious significance. Because of a complete lack of verbal tradition regarding the Moa-Hunter’s use of the two forms, it is difficult to distinguish between them, but certain inferences might be drawn with a reasonable degree of safety. In the warmer regions to the north of New Zealand, where the sperm whale breeds, the whale tooth is still used as a symbol of respect, especially in Fiji. Coconut fibre cordage is attached to each end of the tooth which is then placed over the head of the person to be marked as one of superior rank, or one possessing superior qualities. The number of natural sperm whale teeth discovered in association with other MoaHunter artifacts clearly show that this custom, or something similar to it, was introduced by these people when they arrived in New Zealand, perhaps in the eighth century, but the interesting point is that they turned to manufacturing imitations of bone or stone when it was found that the natural supply was not readily available. This illustrates the fact that wellestablished social institutions die slowly and that man will go to great lengths to perpetuate the culture into which he was born. Imitations Heavy The imitation teeth of stone are often quite large and heavy and it is difficult to imagine them as being objects of everyday wear, so it appears likely that they had some magico-religious significance and were worn on ceremonial or important occasions. They were suspended around the neck with the long axis pointing down and on either side were three-ridged “reel” units

which will be described in a later article. One excellent example on display in the Canterbury Museum is made from a piece of serpentine about Bin long. This is from the important Wairau Bar site near Blenheim, and the crafsman has even gone to the trouble of hollowing out the top to imitate the root cavity of the natural tooth before drilling the suspension hole. (These imitation teeth vary considerably in size and shape, one of the more numerous patterns being made from solid moa bone or from the ivory of a natural tooth. These are a further stage removed from the original, being only about two inches in length with an exaggerated convex curvature (see illustration). Bracelets are made up of seven such units whilst necklaces have 23, but so alike are they it is difficult to distinguish between units found at Moa Bone Point Cave at Christchurch, the Wairau Bar site and the exactly similar units of the Chatham Island Moriori. Marked Similarity Beginning with the blank tab of bone or ivory one can distinguish seven stages of manufacture leading to the finished article. The tab was rounded off at the edges, then the lower point was marked out and filed to shape, probably with a schist file. The deep convex curve was then cut and the upper surface shaped, at which stage the “tooth” was ready for the final touches. When it

was completed, the suspension hole was drilled through and so similar are they that one could almost imagine the craftsman working from a master pattern. The Moa-Hunter Maori burial on display in the Canterbury Museum has four natural sperm whale teeth and 40 of the smaller imitation necklace units, which suggests that these are the remains of a person of some importance. It is likely that the grave offerings were placed there as a mark of respect, a practice of many races, both primitive and civilised, but it is unfortunate for us that the custom was observed, for their juxtaposition gives us a clear indication as to their use. They also tell the more observant that the people who made them had reached a reasonably high degree of social development where personal ornamentation of a high degree of artistic value was considered necessary, thus displaying an advanced aesthetic sense, and also that economic development had reached the stage where leisure time was available to make them. All of the artifacts described in this article may be seen in the Maori PreHistory Hall of the Canterbury Museum.—A.M.E. The photograph is of imitation whale-tooth necklace units showing exaggerated convex curvature. These examples, made of moa bone, were excavated from a site at Redcliffs, Christchurch.