227: Raivavae

This bowl was found 1.5m underground in Tauranga in the 1890's on a slope of Maungatawa. Yes, 1.5m underground in fern country. Discovered when someone was digging a post hole. Why that far down? It wasn't buried under a tree like Maori often did with something they feared or didn't know... ie the Korotangi. Many odd and non-Maori items have been found buried way down below any 800-100 year old Maori occupation layer.

We must point out this item has disappeared. If it is in a museum, it has been kept under wraps. It may be it is on someone's mantlepiece or display cabinet? The last known person to hold this item was T. Chamberlain of Khandallah Wellington. Investigation of his relatives may yet have it turn up?

The faces on each side of this carved bowl are distinct. I have been unable to find a match anywhere in the pacific rim but it's looked like it had South American roots to me. The only Pacific Island that has anything close was Raivavae. There are similarities in Peru and elsewhere. Sadly, when Raivavae converted to Christianity most of their old gods and items were destroyed by the islanders (not the Europeans). The only items that survived were carvings made for trade with visitors. Yes, trade, the same way Maori traded preserved heads captured from opposing tribes and sold for muskets... how do you think the supply kept going..!

Here is the bowl from NZ.

Here are some carvings from the west coast of South America

There are many to choose from and they all have square extended ear and a square nose and the similarities are qucite striking.

And then there is this found on the Austral Islands...