January 16, 2019
Early settlement site in Pēwhairangi
Moa bones have been found in an archaeological dig at Mangahāwea Bay on Moturua Island in the Bay of Islands, confirming speculation it is one of the earliest sites of settlement in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Arakite Charitable Trust, formed by Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha, is leading the excavation, supported by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and DOC.
It’s part of a bigger project focusing on voyaging in Aotearoa and draws on work done in 1981 that was never written up.
John O'Hare from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga says the next couple of days will be crucial as the ‘early’ layer continues to be excavated.
Media will be taken to the site tomorrow.
Radiocarbon dating of items found in the 1981 dig indicates a date of around 1300AD for the site.
A pendant was also found made of part of a paua shell with a Polynesian design, showing its makers were adapting to a new environment.
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