Two adze blades thought to have belonged to local Maori and which could have ‘‘significant cultural value'' have been unearthed in Otago.
The blades, found at Shag Point and at Papatowai, have been publicly notified so claims to the artefacts can be lodged. Until then, pictures cannot be released and information about the taonga is limited.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage communications manager Tony Wallace said a monetary value or an age could not be determined at this point but both were important finds.‘‘We just don't know [their age],'' Mr Wallace said.
‘‘We won't know until we've got more information.
‘‘These things have only just been handed in. Rest assured, they are very old. [They] could have significant cultural value to relevant iwi.''
Adze blades were typically used as part of a woodworking tool, he said.
One blade was found by a member of the public on the hill above Shag Point while the roughout and blade found at Papatowai were discovered off Old Wagon Rd track, on the beach about 1.5m below the surface.
The roughout was a ‘‘mid-grey coloured lithic material'' and probably formed part of the adze blade, Mr Wallace said.
One hundred and fifty-seven taonga tuturu notifications had been lodged to the ministry this year and 12 of those taonga were found in Otago.
Local iwi would would be able to lodge claims for the blades before they were assessed and competing claims resolved, Mr Wallace said.
