Moncks Cave
{{Short description|Cave located in Redcliffs, Christchurch}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox cave
| name = Moncks Cave
| other_name =
| photo = File:Moncks Cave 04.JPG
| photo_caption = Moncks Cave in 2012
| map = New Zealand
| coordinates = {{Coord|43.5644006|S|172.7392656|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| discovery =
}}
Moncks Cave is a cave located in Redcliffs, Christchurch, New Zealand. The cave was uncovered by road workers in 1889, and is considered to be one of the greatest archaeological sites in New Zealand. It is notable for the evidence that it has provided of early Māori occupation.
History
The cave was found in 1889 by workmen who were quarrying for road metal.{{Cite news|title=Maori Relics — Discovery at Sumner|page=154|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63225173/5738447?searchTerm=#pstart5738447|access-date=16 February 2015|work=Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil|issue=249|publisher=The Argus|date=3 October 1889|ref=sketcher-relics}} The workmen cleared and dug through the base of the hill, which led to the discovery of the entrance to the cave. Large amounts of cockle shells were discovered when the cave was opened. The cave was most likely closed by a landslide that occurred before European settlement. The cave showed evidence of previous fires by the amount of charcoal found on the roof.{{Cite book|last1=McFadgen|first1=Bruce|title=Hostile Shores Catastrophic Events in Prehistoric New Zealand and Their Impact on Maori Coastal Communities.|date=2013|publisher=Auckland University Press|location=New York|isbn=9781869406738|page=no page, below fig9.6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vzteAwAAQBAJ|access-date=8 February 2015}}
Artefacts
One artefact found in the cave is a wooden ama, which is also known as an outrigger canoe. It was found in 1889, in the same year as the cave's discovery. Other artefacts discovered include a carved paddle, a canoe bailer, a wooden carving of a dog, fragments of a fishing net, a number of greenstone axe, an amount of black hair and bones of fish and moa, which were found in another cave inside the main one.{{Cite news |date=7 March 1987 |title=Moncks Cave treasures |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19870307.2.116.8 |access-date=3 May 2024 |work=The Press |pages=22 |via=Papers Past}}{{Cite web|title=Ancient outrigger, Moncks Cave|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/40456/ancient-outrigger-moncks-cave|access-date=8 February 2015}} These artefacts have helped researchers learn about Māori culture.{{Cite journal|last1=Jacomb|first1=Chris|title=The chronology of Moncks Cave, Canterbury, New Zealand|journal=Records of the Canterbury Museum|date=December 2008|volume=22|pages=45–56|url=https://inis.iaea.org/search/searchsinglerecord.aspx?recordsFor=SingleRecord&RN=40053537|access-date=8 February 2015}} Due to the many artefacts found in the cave, it is considered to be one of the greatest archaeological finds in New Zealand.{{NZHPT|9067}}
Historic place classification
In 2009, the cave was listed by Heritage New Zealand as a category 1 historic place.
See also
References
{{Commons category|Moncks Cave}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Prehistoric caves}}
Category:Geography of Christchurch
Category:Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in the Canterbury Region