ALIASING FIND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18763, 20 July 1935, Page 6

ALIASING FIND

100 MUMMIES IN CAVE

ANUIENT MAUSOLEUM

NEW GUINEA DISCOVERY

SCIENTISTS INTERESTED

(Elec. Tnl. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (Received Julv 20. 2 p.m.) .SYDNEY, July 20. The mummified remains of more than ICO human beings were discovered hi New Guinea recently. The features hail been preserved almost perfectly. The discovery was made by Dr. J. J>Atcherley. a former administrative officer of New Guinea. Dr. Atcherley was on a mining expedition when the discovery was made at Mapos, A 0 mile-, north-west of Salftmaua. An aperture with a diameter oi about sft. was seen in the lace of a clitl. about 40ft. from the ground. It was found that a large cavern lay beyond, and a shelved mausoleum was discovered inside on which the mummies wenseated with hands resting on hands. According to Dr. Atcherley. the mummies had been preserved by petrification, caused by the dripping of water from the roofs" of limestone caves. U would be impossible to give the exact age of the remains. The general opinion was that the ages varied from between 1000 and 2000 years. Hair, toenails, and fingernails could easily be recognised.

A London message states that anthropologists are. keen fo learn details of Dr. Atcherley’s discovery. Dr. Firth, of New Zealand, secretary of the. Anthropological Society, said that New Zealand discoveries some years ago were assumed to indicate a spread of mummification from. Egypt, but the evidence was. depreciated when it was discovered that the bodies had been desstcated by the natural processes of limestone eaves. Therefore, it would be most interesting to learn the method it preservation. “Dr. Atcherley’s discovery, which I think is the first in New Guinea, is important because other Torres Straits mummies are remarkably similar to Egyptian ones,” he said. “Wo await the details revealing the funeral practices of those responsible, for Dr. Atcherlcy’s mummies, because il will shed light on the purpose of preservation, philosophy, and ideas of life after death. It would he most desirable for an experienced anthropologist like Dr. Fortune, at present on the Rainu plateau in New Guinea, to investigate Dr. Atcherley’s find with a view to deriving tho maximum value from the evidence. The- Government- should he most careful in ascertaining the attitude of- the natives, because' careless inter, fercnce elsewhere- lihs--jed -to reprisals • hindering further study.’-'