Fragile find shares secrets of Maori life centuries ago

A sneeze could destroy the tiny fragments forever, but pieces of an ancient Maori cloak found on Banks Peninsula have major significance.

The remnants of the 500-year-old flax cloak were found on Kaitorete Spit, by Lake Ellesmere, with other artefacts in what archaeologists and local Maori regard as a valuable archaeological and cultural find.

Unusually well-preserved albatross bones, tools and kokowai (a red dye) and pieces of a hut, including a segment of carved wood, were also unearthed.

Historic Places Trust regional archaeologist Chris Jacomb said the cloak was of particular interest. It was the first evidence of how clothing was made in the early centuries of Maori settlement in New Zealand.

When Polynesians settled in about AD1200, they quickly realised tapa cloth was not hardy enough for the country's colder climate, he said.

"People had to make all sorts of adjustments when they came over from tropical lands."

The remnants were "really important for what they tell us about weaving and textiles in a new land".

The site, which dates back to the mid-1400s, was so well-preserved because a fire razed the area just before it was smothered by sand.

Despite the remains being charred and carbonised, intricate detail down to fine threads used to bind the flax can still be seen.

Mr Jacomb said that showed that weaving techniques were developed very early, and these had stood the test of time. They were still used in cloak-making today.

Buried under steep sand dunes precariously close to the ocean, the site is in the Taumutu tribe's area, and its runanga has rights to the items, which it considers are taonga.

Chairman David O'Connell said the runanga was extremely excited about the find. Although there were hundreds of sites in the well-traversed area, many of them had been damaged by the natural environment.

Taumutu cultural portfolio leader Tania Nutira said seeing how their ancestors had lived was "amazing" and was of special significance because of the familial links.

The excavation was a joint effort, with a dozen archaeologists and members of the runanga spending three days at the site last year.

Mr Jacomb said the cleaning and preservation of the items were delicate jobs and involved three weeks of careful work at Canterbury and the University of Auckland's conservation laboratory using blower brushes, paint brushes and special chemicals.

The site is in continual danger of erosion by the sea, and the runanga and the trust are looking to plan another dig with the help of Otago University.

The runanga hopes to work with the Canterbury Museum and the trust on protecting the items.

- NZPA