MOA BONES FOUND

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 10

MOA BONES FOUND

Over 2000 Recovered Near Wanganui DEFINITE SCIENTIFIC VALUE Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, May 19. For the last four mouths extensive excavations have been carried out on Mr. J. A. Todd's property at Makirikiri, near Wanganui, by the Wanganui Museum trustees, under Mr. E. P. V. Sealey, for moa bones. This particular deposit has provided bones for the last 40 years, but until recently it has never been worked systematically, and the results being obtained now are expected to yield information of a definitely valuable scientific nature.

Over 2000 bones have been recovered since the operations were started. They range from enormous tibia to small neck and tail joints. It is believed that all the known North Island species of moa are represented. There are reputed to be 23 different species, of which 12 kinds have been found In the North. “The Dominion” has been informed that a scientific examination and classification of the Makirikiri bones is likely to lead to the identification of hitherto unknown varieties of the bird, in addition to establishing grounds for the belief that some of the bones found will prove the existence of some South island species in the North Island. The excavations have been made in a locality where probably some thousands of years ago there was much thermal activity. The crater of this particular spring, according to Mr. Healey, measures 42 feet in diameter. When activity subsided the spriug gradually became covered with vegetation, and the theory is advanced that moas feeding upon this crust broke it and were unable to extricate themselves. Consequently they died, the bodies being sucked into the liquid ooze, which filled the crater to an unknown depth. Since the ooze contained many preservative qualities, most of the bones have been kept in their original condition. One of tiie most important discoveries during the progress of the excavations was the recovery intact of the contents of a inoa's stomach. Partially examined, this revealed food remains consisting of trituated grass with occasional supplejack seeds, together with the usual collection of “moa stones,” swallowed apparently to assist digestion. It is understood that the curator of the museum, Mr. Shepherd, will start shortly to set up one or more of the recently found specimens which are not already on exhibition in the museum. To recover the bones Mr. Sealey and his associates decided to lower the level of the crater by baling out the mud. A thirty-foot derrick was erected, with an oil engine providing power to work a big scoop. As the mud was lifted it was discharged downa chute, the spoil being closely scrutinised. After some weeks the level was lowered by seven feet, but as the walls showed a tendency to subside, a coffer wall was built, the excavations continuing inside this to a depth of 11 feet.