Posted on 07/14/2002 1:19:44 PM PDT by blam
Mysterious giant human remains found in Fiji
AFP [ SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2002 10:29:37 AM ]
SUVA: Mysterious skeletal remains of what appears to be a 3,000-year-old giant have been unearthed on a South Pacific islands, but the bones' discovery has rattled local archaeologists who say poor treatment of the remains may have lost vital information.
Little is known about the highly unusual find, which includes a skull bearing strange holes drilled into its cheekbones, with authorities keen to keep the controversial discovery under wraps.
According to sources, the body, found at Lomaiviti, an island to the north of here, predates European exploration of the Pacific and it is believed the man was originally from the Solomon Islands.
The body was discovered last week by a Solomon Islander from the University of the South Pacific (USP), alongside examples of Lapita pottery artifacts created by a group of Melanesians believed to have been the founders of modern Polynesia.
Measuring 1.9 m, the body is unusually large considering its age and origin. Pictures of its skull show the holed cheekbones, a feature unseen in previous discoveries, according to Fiji Museum sources.
The head of pre-history archaeology at the museum, Sepeti Matararaba, said the discovery of the body and pottery was "significant".
"As for the skeleton remains, I will still have to see it ... it is a significant find for us.
"Studies done there now would enlighten us more on the early travelling habits in those times. We have found similar pottery on neighbouring islands of the group.
"Once they are dated, we can know the exact patterns of living and the kind of activities during those early occupations. It is really very good news."
But the skeleton has already caused controversy with experts voicing concern over its treatment at the hands of "cowboy" archaeologists.
One senior Fiji Museum source said a relocation of the remains may have destroyed vital information and museum experts should have been consulted earlier.
"These cowboy archaeologists, a bit like parachute journalists, are allowed such field trips but by law, if they were find something as significant as a skeleton, especially of the suspected period of existence, the Museum must be informed," the senior official said.
"It is also only logical that our field staff who are trained for such excavations are informed of such developments considering their skills and tools, paramount of course is the creation and maintenance of our historical database."
Patrick Nunn, the supervisor of the archaeological team analysing the remains at USP would not comment and said on Sunday "we have decided to keep our find under wraps".
BTTT
It's a she? How can ya tell? The only thing I can say with certainty is it's a Kerry voter.
Modern Polynesians?
me too,,
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ever notice how stuff like this always happens in far-away places where it's impossible to verify, and the sources are dubious?
This "giant" is only 1.9 meters tall. Not too implausible.
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All your bones are belong to us.
the tallest people in the world are in montenegro.there are some ancient buildings around podgorica(capitol).people who live around says that they found on their properties graves with people taller then ussual.around 2,2m .
A smaller than average giant.
Hope it's not another Piltdown.
I told the LOTR crew to pay a little more attention to clean up!!
A Dingo ate my baybee, mate.
Is he sure that he didn't get loaded one night and stumble across the Edoras set from Lord of the Rings?
..not quite 6 cubits and a span, so what's the excitement about...?
I have seen people from that part of the world, who are that height, that I'd describe a "giant". Not because of their height, but because of their width and robustness. I vividly remember being at a gas station in rural New Zealand, and seeing some sinister-looking teenage Tongan gangsters, who were about 6'2", 400+ pounds, and NOT FAT. Their hands were like baseball gloves. Their necks were larger in diameter than their heads, which were of considerable size themselves. Their fingers resembled sausages. Their calves were as big around as tree trunks.
Tongan women are built like that too!!
"Is he sure that he didn't get loaded one night and stumble across the Edoras set from Lord of the Rings?"
I've been to the site of Hobbiton. Beautiful place. The hobbit-holes are just doorways...they don't extend into the hillsides (which are really steep, much steeper than they appear in the film. It was difficult to scramble up to the holes.)
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