Graveyard of whales

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32630, 11 June 1971, Page 2

Graveyard of whales

A “graveyard Of whates” in the Hakataramea Valley in South Canterbury has yielded the fossilised remains of whales which died almost 30m years ago.

One of the skeletons which have been painstakingly Unearthed so far appears to be Of a type previously unknown to science. The skull, both jaw bones, all seven neck vertebrae, a shoulder blade and several smaller bones of this whale have been recovered so far. It was of the toothless type of whale, with jaw bones six feet long, and tnust have been 36ft to 35ft long. The graveyard was found last year by Mr G. M. Mason, ah amateur geologist frpm Temuka; ana he, together With Mr D. R. Gregg, geologist with the Canterbury Museum, afid Dr F. M. Clitno, ah eXpert oh fossil Whales, have been at Work excavating the remains. Using small trowels, probes ahd brushes, they have steadily worked the soil away from the bones which, because of their softness, have to be Coated With shellac to stop them crumbling. Once they are hard enough, they are encased in plaster jackets for theif removal td the canterbury Museum far cleaning afid further Study. Although the valley thoutfi is now about 35 ffiiles from he sea, Mr Mason believes t was once a broad, shallow bay. The nigh concentration of remains of whales and similar species in the area is explained, he thinks, by its being a “graveyard” chosen by the whales to go to die, Such in the same way as ephants ate reputed to do.