Moncks Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moncks Cave |
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Moncks Cave in 2012.
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| Discovery | 1889 |
Moncks Cave is a special cave found in Redcliffs, a part of Christchurch, New Zealand. It's famous because many old wooden objects, called artefacts, were found there in 1889. Workers found these items while digging for rocks to build roads.
Discovering Moncks Cave
The cave was found in 1889 by workers. They were digging up rocks and gravel to use for building roads. This kind of digging had been happening in the area for several years. As the workers cleared and dug into the base of a hill, they found the entrance to the cave.
When the cave was first opened, a lot of cockle shells were found inside. Scientists think the cave was probably sealed off by a landslide a long time ago, even before European people settled in New Zealand. There was also evidence of old fires inside the cave, like charcoal on the roof. This shows that people might have used the cave for shelter or cooking in the past.
Amazing Artefacts Found
Many important objects were discovered inside Moncks Cave. These finds help us learn a lot about the early Māori culture in New Zealand.
Types of Artefacts
- Wooden ama: One very important item was a wooden ama. This is a special part of an outrigger canoe. It was found in 1889, the same year the cave was discovered.
- Carved paddle: A beautifully carved paddle was also found. This would have been used for paddling a canoe.
- Canoe bailer: Workers also found a bailer, which is a tool used to scoop water out of a canoe.
- Wooden dog carving: A small wooden carving of a dog was among the discoveries.
- Fishing net pieces: Fragments of an old fishing net were found, showing how people caught fish.
- Greenstone axes: Several greenstone (a type of jade) axes were uncovered. These were important tools and valuable items.
- Hair and bones: Inside another smaller cave within the main one, researchers found black hair and bones from fish and moa. Moa were large, flightless birds that used to live in New Zealand.
Because so many valuable and well-preserved artefacts were found, Moncks Cave is considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries in New Zealand. These items give us clues about how early Māori people lived, hunted, and traveled.
