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... to each other and probably within 20cm of the skull. This will allow a fairly good reconstruction of the position of the legs (crouch position). All fragments found were under the dark blackened sand layer in relatively clean but slightly discolored sand which forms a distinct layer about 30 cm thick. All bones recovered came from the discolored layer, with the possible exception of one or two fragments that may have been discoloured by actual contact with the blackened fire bit debris, these darker coloured fragments would appear to be humerus bone and it may be that some of these bones have been removed or disturbed at a later period. As I have heard a number of reports of deep deposit layers, I decided to dig into the clean layer and can report nothing was found down to a depth of about 50cm (130 from the surface). A number of experimental holes were attempted today in other locations. One at Ft. George at about the same distance from the road as the burials. Here one finds a much thicker soil deposit also one post hole was noted however with the exception of irregularities in the main upper layer no secondary layers were found, the excavation was taken to about 150 cm below the surface, whereupon a shallow coral hardpan was encountered. Two more random pits were tried as a continuation behind Ft George on Parcelle *201 TEAUTARA 3 (where a great many artifacts have been recovered), about 200 meters inland. Here we found some differences in the thickness of the upper layer and a variation in the consistency of the sterile sand beneath however no deep secondary layers were encountered going down to about about 120cm. As I have made a number of searches in recently excavated irrigation ditches and now made a few test holes without encountering the slightest trace of deep deposits, I venture to guess that Tubuai's entire history will be found in the single upper layer (however stratified that might be) and so the discovery of the HOOURA burials under this main layer (the additional layers described may actually be the result of recent house construction) and without interred humus could further indicate the antiquity of these burials. Wednesday, March 28th, 1990 Return to the TEAUTARA test pit site to gather charcoal fragments from the lowest layer. This is a 15-20cm thick layer of gritty grey black sandy soil which intergrades with an upper layer of rich soil which is from 10-20 cm. thick (samples taken from a depth of about 35 cm.) Both layers contained fair amounts of large irregular rocks,which may have been at one time Hima stones. An unusually large hammerstone (8 cm. ... |
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