DISCOVERIES IN CAVE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18529, 16 October 1934, Page 4

DISCOVERIES IN CAVE

ANCIENT HABITATION SKELETONS OF GREAT SIZE An interesting discovery was made at Whanguroa. of a huge cavern, obviously Cf ancient human.habitation, by Mr. G. Fleming and Mr. L. Frcar, two Whangaroa residents. The two men first came upon the entrance of a narrow crevice in a rock wall hidden by a largo pohutukawa trunk during a search of the coastline following a boating fatality in August. After taking bearings, • the searchers loft, with the intention of exploringi the locality at a more suitable opportunity. Recently they had no difficulty in rediscovering the entrance. They then advanced through a rapidly-growing passage into a huge main cavern, approximately 40ft. lugh and over 50ft. wide. The floor of the cavern was covered with a thick layer of dust, from which the gruesome remains of the past inhabitants protruded. Mr. Fleming states that the place was not a burial ctfvc. Cooking, eating and sleeping places were fairly intact, and there were signs of feasting everywhere. The bones of fish, birds and human beings were intermingled with strange hones, possibly of moas. Several skeletons, with reddish, fuzzy hair still adhering to the skulls, were found, which led Mr. Fleming to doubt whether they wore Maori remains. The explorers were amazed at the huge dimensions of the skeletons. Gne skeleton, reposing on a ledge, was of a man estimated in life to have stood nearly 7ft. In tho opinion of the discoverers the inhabitants had been compelled to live in captivity in the cave. Valuable finds were made of wood fishhooks tipped with shell, and mats.