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... removal, it must be further noted that at the present time there is not one professional Archeologist working in the Society Islands nor the funds available for a proper excavation, even if a willing Archeologist could be found. The bones proved even more fragile than expected and very little information about the actual burial resulted, This skeleton was much smaller than the first, many teeth were recovered but the skull seemed entirely absent with only a limited amount of deteriorated bone associated with the teeth. The body was again in a flexed position, perhaps lying on its side as the first observed fragments recovered were from the pelvic girdle which appeared flush with the surface, in both excavations the vertebrae appeared to be coming from the lower or lowest levels. Even though the teeth looked to be those of a child (in size) the femur looked quite substantial and time willing I shall at least attempt to give bone length data, It was my hope that some diagnostic artifact my be recovered which would give a better idea as to the age of these burials, however both burials appear to have been without the inclusion of grave goods.
Today I started the major reconstruction of the remains from the first burial. Most of the skull bones were broken and disorganized however patient examination and sorting of the dozens of fragments soon showed that a reconstruction was possible given the presence of most of the important bones. (and a number of excellent anatomical works) From todays initial work it will now be possible to give measurement data as to the length and breadth of the skull as well as other important parameters. Of particular diagnostic interest are the teeth, as most of the upper molars are missing (through natural causes) and tooth wear as well as blunted tooth roots indicate that this individual may have been at least middle aged. The large size of the bones suggest that the individual was a male and that he may have been over five foot eight inches (170cm) tall, possessing a rocker jaw and some of the other typically 'Polynesian" characteristics as detailed in the excellent work of Philip Houghton (The First New Zealanders). The real mystery of this burial is the absence of the humerus bones. These bones cannot have disintegrated entirely and the lack of any sign of them indicates that they were removed from the body, possibly before burial. (See also Diagrams 13.2, 13.3).
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