52: The real 'dirt' on TangataWhenua16
Yes, we said we'd be in by now. Yes, it's taking longer than expected...and yes, that's life sometimes.
If you had to do by hand what we have been doing in a confined space you would understand but we are progressing. Here are some photo's of progression of entry without giving away too much.
As you can see, the initial entry is easy. Then as you remove the soft fill you turn to the left find 7 metres of hard clay and rocks under the soft fill. This was done deliberately to make any access difficult until a later time. My belief is it would have been 'suddenly discovered' in 2067 when the law toward these pre-Maori remains changes. That is probably why they didn't just blow the entrance up, but we'll never know. But the fact it wasn't is good for us and for what is inside.
The last photo is of the last 4-5 metres and you can see from photo 3 how far down we need to go to make it accessible.
It's hot, hard, dirty work and every muscle aches and you need dust makes or your lungs fill with dust. That is why I take antibiotics before and afterward in case there are any mould spores or other nasties in the dirt. We don';t want to end up like Howard Carter now do we!
More in time followers...more in time.
