1300s: Inangahua Adze
July 1, 2021
By AHNZ
Greymouth Star reports the discovery of a stone tool, an adze seemingly made of argillite stone. It recently turned up on the Inangahua River in the town of Reefton after some tree felling.
“Maori adze surprise…A small Maori adze was unearthed…The find has been notified to Ngati Waewae,…” – Greymouth Star (12/6/2020)
Actually there’s no reason to assume this artefact is Maori at all. In New Zealand, when something prehistoric turns up, it is automatically assumed, these days, that it must be Maori. Everything is Maori and in some sense the property of a Maori tribe; This is already decided.
In reality it may not be Maori at all. Up to about 40 years ago it would be considered and open question as to the stone belonging to Moa Hunters or Waitaha and the answer explored. Today it’s instantly “Maori taonga” and will be classified in the Maori section of any museum or collection.
Anarchist History disrupts such assumptions.
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Ref. 1501: Waitaha’s Lost Luggage?
2 thoughts on "1300s: Inangahua Adze"
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I am Waitaha and find it quite insulting that you assume we are not Maori! Such a narrow view to assume that Aotearoa was only discovered a few hundred years ago! Our South Island family tree and oral history goes back 2000 years plus, depicting trade and peaceful communications between Egypt, Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands and South America. Its bad enough being constantly asked to prove our family once lived here!, let alone being told we are the “lost tribe”! So please, Anarchy your view about your own history before trampling on mine! Mauri Ora!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the comment Squires. I’ll leave that up as an alternative history perspective. Please feel free to share more