Evidence that NZ giant eagles co-existed with Polynesian settlers

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Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:00a.m.

Artist's impression of a Giant Haast's eagle

Artist's impression of a Giant Haast's eagle

Archaeologists have found more evidence that New Zealand’s most dangerous pre-historic predator, co-existed with the earliest Polynesian settlers.

Two bones of an eagle believed to be 700 years old have been found by archaeologists, at the Wairau bar, near Blenheim.

In its day the extinct “giant haast's eagle'' - with it’s 2 to 3 metre wing span - used to eat even the largest species of moa.

Paul Schofield from the Canterbury museum said “we found a couple of bones of haasts eagle -this is one of the earliest sites where people arrived in NZ and one of the only places where people and haasts eagle interacted.

“Both of the bones found here have been shaped into artefacts, possibly because of the bird's reputation.

“The eagle being quite a majestic and awesome animal and they actually used these bones to make ritually symbolic artefacts.”

 He says the chance find is significant.

“It’s very exciting - we're only digging a few archaeological pits here and the chances of actually finding them are quite slim.”
 
One focus of this Otago University-led dig is to find out more about life in one of the country's first villages.

Archaeologist Richard Walter said “we think this site was first occupied around the yr 1300AD and was probably occupied for a few decades.”

But the other key focus is to find a reburial site for human remains discovered in the 1940s and 50s and taken to Canterbury museum.

Walter said “We've selected our main excavation areas in places where the re-interment of the tupuna can take place.”

The entire site was surveyed with geophysical equipment before any excavation work could begin. It's non intrusive and looks for any signs that might relate to human activity.

Wairau bar is the historic home of the Rangitane people, who never wanted their ancestor's remains to be removed.

Richard Bradley of Rangitane says “our people at the time said ‘oh that's not right people are buried they should stay where they're buried - they're buried with tears and mucus and love.”

Rangitane people have long fought for the remains to be returned.

Bradley said “I'm still a bit sort of flummoxed that it’s happening in my lifetime.”
 
The bones are expected to be repatriated in April.

3 News.


 

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Comments

19 Jan 2009 04:27p.m.

Kenneth wrote:

Harry,
you have been reading too much psuedo-history. Nothing here stands up to scrutiny, but it is the kind of stuff that gets bounced around as hearsay by a very few.
FYI, NZ was settled just under 1,000 years ago by Eastern Polynesians. There have not been reliable C14 dates earlier than this and artefacts that we can touch & see are of clear Polynesian type, as are the skeletal remains from pre-European sites.
Is the simplest explanation the best? Or, do we believe in stone circles that no longer exist, documents in Scotland that are not availible for our checking etc.
Who decided there is a 'map of lake Taupo' before it 'blew up'? Point me to pictures of those stone maps...Lol.
'The world was thoroughly explored before 600BC'. WTF?
Really? How so? By whom? How much do you know of the world in 600BC? (answer I suspect is :very little)
Is the evidence for that ancient exploration just as compelling as all the other material you just supplied?
Please, don't get so indignant that your fringe theories are not accepted. It is not evidence of a cover-up of archaeological truth....
It is just that psuedo-history doesn't stand up to any real scrutiny so most sensible people tend to go with academics and evidence.
And rightly so.If you want to know about the Wairua Bar site then read Roger Duff's 'The Moa Hunter Period of Maori Culture'. (1970's edition rather than the 50's original).
Read some of the conventional evidence before declaring the 'truth'. It is all there, for the literate and sensible reader.

17 Jan 2009 08:00a.m.

harry wrote:

Why would it be a polynesian site.When they know nz was populated 2000 years prior to the Maori arriving. They have even uncovered historical documents in Scotland referring to two shiploads of troublemakers being shipped out to NZ in the year 1200.They were left with no knives or tools.Some time later when they checked on them they found that they had traded for knives and tools with visiting ships.Maps carved in stone have been found in NZ depicting lake Toupo as it was before it blew up in 600 BC.A Stonehenge type structure used to sit on top of Mt Wellington this was removed in the early days to put guns atop the mountain. Does anyone know of any drawings surviving of the stone arrangment.Just think of the tourism that could be developed if our very ancient history was not destroyed or covered over. There is still a lot of secret ancient sites in NZ. The entire world was well known at least prior to 600 BC. Columbus sailed around the world with a map he had attained in Africa.It would appear the dark ages was the reason for much of this knowledge to be lost,then came allong the theory of evolution wich taught that ancient man was stupid and as a result information must conform with the theory