Blue-hued treasure unearthed
An intriguing find in a Palmerston North gravel pit may be only as big as the palm of a hand, but it’s a national treasure.
A contractor working at a Higgins quarry site on Tip Rd noticed an unusually coloured object, its deep blue standing out in the sea of lighter grey stones near the Manawatu¯ River.
It turned out to be an adze head, made of argillite stone, and it’s in the safekeeping of Te Manawa as a taonga tu¯turu – an item of Ma¯ori cultural or historical importance.
Under the Protected Objects Act such a find must go to the nearest museum, where it remains until a successful claim of ownership is made.
Given it was found, late last year, near an old Rangita¯ne village, Maraetarata, the iwi could file such a claim. A representative from the iwi said it was aware of the find.
Te Manawa heritage collections manager Cindy Lilburn said the adze, or toki, would have been fixed to a wooden handle, which hadn’t been found. Such tools were used to shape wood.
It likely originated in the Nelson-marlborough area and would have been traded up to Manawatu¯, and could date anywhere from the 1600s to 1830.
‘‘By that point in time metal was becoming available.’’
An argillite adze was relatively common, compared with the more expensive greenstone tools. An adze was used in a plane-like motion, rather than the vertical swing of an axe, Lilburn said.
Unless a successful claim of ownership was made the adze would sit in ‘‘limbo’’, unable to be displayed, Lilburn said.
A Ministry for Culture and Heritage spokesperson said officials had publicly notified the find and called for ownership claims.
‘‘If a single claim for ownership is made, and if satisfied that the claim is valid, the ministry’s chief executive will apply to the Ma¯ori Land Court seeking an order determining ownership and custody.
‘‘When multiple claims are lodged, the ministry works with claimants to find a suitable resolution wherever possible.’’
The claims deadline is May 7.