MUMMIFIED HUMAN REMAINS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 July 1935, Page 8

MUMMIFIED HUMAN REMAINS

DISCOVERED IN NEW GUINEA FEATURES ALMOST PERFECT (Uni toil Tress Association—Hy Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, 20th July. The mummified remains of more than a hundred human beings were discovered in New Guinea recently. The features had been preserved almost perfectly. The discovery was made by Dr. J. 11. A'eherley. a former Administration officer of New Guinea. Dr. Atehcriey was on a mining expedition when the' discovery was made at Alapos, 30 miles north-west of Salamanca. An aperture with a diameter of about five feet was seen in the face of a cliff about forty feet from the ground. It was found that a large cavern lay beyond, and a shelved mausoleum was discovered inside on which the mummies were seated witli their heads resting on their hands. According to Dr. Atehcriey the mummies had been preserved by petrification caused by the dripping of water from the roofs of the limestone caves. It is impossible to give the exact ages of the remains. The genera! opinion was that the ages varied from between 1000 and 2000 years. Hair, toe nails, and finger nails could easily he l ecognised. ANTHROPOLOGISTS AWAI ITN(I DETAILS . LONDON, 19th July. Anthropologists are anxious to learn details of the discovery of the mummified remains. Dr. Filth, a New Zealander, secretary of the Anthropological Society, said that New Zealand discoveries some years ago were assumed to indicate the spread of mummification from Egypt, hut tile evidence depreciated when ii was discovered that the bodies had been desiccated by natural processes in limestone caves. ‘‘Therefore it was most interesting to learn of the method of preservation in the case of Dr. Alehcrlcy’s discovery, which, lie thought, was tiio first in North Now Guinea, it was important because other Torres Straits mummies were remarkably similar lo the Egyptian. "We will await details revealing the funeral practices of those responsible for Dr. Atclierley’s mummies,” lie said, "because they may shed light oil the purpose of preservation and philosophy of ideas of life after death held by the natives. It would he most desirable for an experienced anthropologist like Dr. Etirline, who is at present on the Ramu .Plateau in New Guinea, fo investigate Dr. AtcheiTey’s find with a view to deriving the maximum value from the evidence. "Tiie Government should he most careful in ascertaining tile attitude of the natives, because careless interference elsewhere has led to reprisals, hindering further study.”