Skeletons in the Closet is the apt title of the highly recommended Plumtree Productions video (available online) which explores New Zealand’s hidden history. It’s apt because just today (25-03-17) comes news that finding of a centuries-old skull and bones at Kaikoura will not result in proper, open-minded examination.
The Christchurch Press reported that the skull and femur bones were found by Abseil Access workers clearing boulders from a slip above SH1 caused by the recent Kaikoura earthquake. Archaeologist Nick Cable described the discovery as ‘a particularly significant find’. The bones and skull were found among rocks that had come down.
The quake, he says, has laid bare many archaeological sites of interest. However, he made no mention of radio carbon dating or DNA tests to ascertain the age and ethnic origin of the remains, having already concluded that is further evidence of ‘pre-European Maori’ presence – ‘really it’s putting bones on the stories the iwi have’, he said.
Ngai Tahu say the area is of huge archaeological significance to them and Cable says some remains have been left in place pending removal under archaeological supervision.
Police called to the scene of the find oversaw removal of the skull and bones and took them to Kaikoura Police Station. Constable Chris McCracken said once the site had been cleared of debris and made safe the koiwi tangata would be reburied there according to iwi protocols, he said.
The prevailing view then is that no matter how many centuries old found human remains may be if they are pre-European they must be Maori and no scientific examination will be conducted with a view to the possibility they may be otherwise.
This is why in December of 2016 the complete skeleton, of an adult woman, found in eroding sand at Motukahakaha Bay (Paradise Bay) were reburied.
James Robinson a heritage archaeologist who examined the remains, said the bones were from a pre-Christian burial, and were probably hundreds of years old. After being blessed by local kaumatua, Dave Henare, they were buried in the Patau urupā (burial ground) in Waimahana Bay.
Some years ago there was the strange case of a hole-pierced woman’s skull found near Masterton. Referred to the Coroner, the skull was found to be several hundred years and was of European appearance. When requests were made for further radio carbon and dna tests to determined exact age and ethnic origin the skull strangely disappeared.
When will the skeletons be allowed out of the closet?