140: Dig Update

The latest dig involved a new system of fill disposal and for the first time involved using two sleds due to the distances within the tube. The fans dropped power due to a switch being left on but strangely the air at the head remained fresh as there is an almost inperceptable flow coming from the shaft area. This is a little confusing as there is no other known entrance. It was only a few months ago we thought we could hear water; like a babbling brook sounding like many deep voices. That sound we couldn't hear this time but to be fair, I didn't stop to listen.

As far as forward progress goes, there isn't too much to report or show from the previous dig as we didn't touch the vertical portion I gave the name 'elevator'. Instead we widened the head to prove more room for safety reasons for when we do try collapse the 'rockfall' above the clay (see previous dig update post). We did knock a bit down until what remained refused to move with a prodding tool and technicaly one could stand up in the gap now, but if the clay lumps fell on your head (some could be 30kg), you would likely be killed or very seriously injured, and the last dig almost ended like that! So we need to proceed with caution now and do this differently. One has suggested a concussion charge to drop the lot in one go. In that confined space? Are they mad? They probably are mad; that suggestion was mine !

We found another bone, this one seems to be from a small moa and this time just the joint ends, not the shaft. It was in fragments arranged in the soil and it also showed evidence of being in a fire for the cooking of the marrow. Until we piece it togther I can't tell what type or it's size but it's quite likely another moa bone.

Removing the bird bone. (at about 20 meters inside).

So this dig was mainly just clearing out to the floor and the sides of where we were near the head (the area seen behind the digger in blue). We are continuing to uncover and expose what is deliberately hidden behind this fill because of what it means to the history of NZ and in fact - the world. This could be the biggest story since 1922. Therefore the correct term we coined for what we are doing (and will continue to use due to the critisism of it when we put it on Facebook as a joke) is Anakalúptō̱logy; to uncover or expose. It's a legitimate Greek word like most of our English language is based around.

But it's the next dig, that will be the most dangerous one...