- IJ
Sidestep: The miniature NZ Menhir
This item is one most of us have seen before. It resides the Auckland museum and is said to be a boundary or tapu marker (Pou rahui) - and this is quite likely. Interestingly any photo of it by the Musuem all exlude ther spiral. Not sure why?
It is definitely one of a kind. There is no other even close to it in existence in NZ. It has a double spiral upon it and is unlike any other ‘Maori’ boundary marker ever recorded.
It’s overall shape is unlike anything else recorded as made by Maori
It has been inscribed unlike anything else as a double spiral design on anything not a naturally shaped in-situ rock.
Its base is rounded - unnecessary if it was intended to be buried in the ground as a permanent marker.
It does have similarities to...
The giant menhirs of Turaja Island of Sulawesi
The large menhirs of Europe
The spiraled stone markers of Ireland
However, we make no assertion regarding the above three points. This stone, if it is to be regarded as designed and carved by Polynesians arriving in NZ, departs from all known Polynesian influenced stone markers (warning or boundary markers)...in the entire country and in the entire Pacific! So where did it's shape influence come from, and was the spiral carved by a different people than those who carved the stone into it's current shape?
The problem with this item is there is little recorded about it - not via an easy access anyway. JPS.auck has nothing at all on the find, the museum record says nothing much either. That is because they cannot classify it. It matches nothing of Polynesian origin anywhere. The Museum says it is 'oblong'. It isn't, it is cylindrical and tapered.
We don't know what sort of stone it is, where it was found (other than North Auckland somewhere), nor who found it nor when it was found. It is a very visual part of the Auckland Museum Maori hall collection - yet one of the hardest to find any detailed information on.
That in itself raises many more questions that answers.
Just another puzzle to solve in time when the first peoples are finally recognized.
