| Cave. This cave is located 226 degrees from fallen moai (F 39) and
260 degrees from highest point of the ahu
(F48). Its entrance conforms
to the natural slope of the hillside and has a maximum width of 2.13m and
a maximum height of 1.12m. The roof of the entrance consists of a
naturally formed outcropping of vesicular basalt. Several large stones
have been placed in front of the entrance on the south side. The ground
directly in front of the cave contains a scatter of stones, including a
single paenga standing on edge. At five degrees to the north of the cave,
about six meters from the center of the cave entrance, lies a rectangular
arrangement of stones. The arrangement extends 2.78m (N-S) and 1.55m (E-W)
and consists of three paenga and
assorted vesicular basalt stones. The stones are aligned parallel to one
another in four distinct lines, which are perpendicular to the slope of
the hill. Uphill from the stones are four poro.
Uphill from the cave there is a large lithic scatter, which includes two
obsidian mata’a and an adze
that have been documented and recorded with total station coordinates. The
interior of the cave is highly irregular, mostly naturally formed and
previously disturbed. The cave interior is about 7m by 6m with a highly
irregular shape. The maximum height is 1.5m. Both floor and ceiling level
fluctuate. Numerous natural and modified stones line the walls and floor,
including paenga and poro.
They are covered in a green film of unknown origin. The northeast corner
(A) is characterized by a small wall, 1.5m from the floor to the ceiling,
which includes poro, paenga, and flat
vesicular basalt stones. The southwest corner (B) appears to be built to
help close off the entrance. It consists of flat rocks and poro, placed in such a fashion that they reduce the opening in the
cave. At the northeast end of the cave, there is a round iron ball (D)
that is heavily corroded and has a diameter of 8cm (a cannon ball?). The
western side, to the north of the entrance, appears to be built up with
flat stones and poro (C). Also
to the north end of the cave is a possible adze (E). What appears to be a paenga is lying in the entryway. |
