Mysterious Giant Human Remains Found In Fiji

Times Of India ^ | 7-14-2002

[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".

[blam]

A 6' 2" skeleton in this area would be considered large but, a 'giant?'

On the other hand, there is a New Zealand archaeologist who claims to have found ancient Celtic structures on NZ.

[BrooklynGOP]

Measuring 1.9 m, the body is unusually large considering its age and origin.

Well, its 3,000 a year old.

[Dog Gone]

"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.

This official sounds like a snot, but I like the term, "parachute journalist."

I don't know what it means, but I like it.

[Restorer]

Parachute journalists are those who fly into a trouble spot and immediately upon arrival begin pontificating to the home audience as if they are experts on the local situation. Dan Rather and Geraldo are classic examples.

[blam]

Ancient Celtic New Zealand

[elbucko]

which includes a skull bearing strange holes drilled into its cheekbones,...

Are they sure it's not Jimmy Hoffa?

[Dog Gone]

Thanks for the explanation. I hereby offer to pack their chutes.

[blam]

Phoenicians In Australia?

[TADSLOS]

Well, its 3,000 a year old.

"Shrinkage, Jerry...."

[elbucko]

"These cowboy archaeologists,..

As a former "cowboy" during my summers, and still a horse owner, "Ah don't thank ah like the sound o' them association o' words, Pardner!" If one has ever been around a real "cowboy", they are very competent in many things. More so than many professionals these days, and more honest.

[Restorer]

Among several factual errors in the article you linked.

I've never heard anybody say that the Vikings had a compass before.

Thor Heyerdahl sailed a balsa raft from Peru to Polynesia, not a reed boat.

There is excellent evidence the Phoenicians at least once sailed all the way around Africe, from Egypt down the Red Sea, returning through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Methinks the article was written by someone with little historical knowledge.

[Paul Atreides]

[genefromjersey]

Oh...they call it thet ol' Fiji Dew
An' them what refuse it are few-
You'll feel lak a giant
Whin they feed you a pint
Of thet good ol' Fiji Dew !!

[genefromjersey]

Dunno 'bot the Celtics, but the Australian dingo is supposed to be closely related to domesticated African dogs.

Attributing harbors to Phoenicians in this neck of the woods seems a mite far-fetched, and ignores the fact people were sailing pretty routinely from China to California-long before Europeans " discovered " the Pacific.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Nothing to it, the FIJI House at my college was all football players.

[blam]

Dixie Dingo

[Tijeras_Slim]

Almost as cool as Basenjis.

[SubMareener]

WOW! Those Celts really got around!

[RightWhale]

Vikings had a compass before

Vikings had everything everybody else had. If it wasn't nailed down. And sometimes even if it was.

[leilani]

"Thor Heyerdahl sailed a balsa raft from Peru to Polynesia, not a reed boat." You know that, but that isn't what Heyerdahl,Inc & their friends at PBS have been promoting to the public for fifty years, so give the guy a break on this one.We all grew up on the (bogus, we now know) image of the Kon Tiki as authentic (& without the refrigeration below decks & Lloyd's of London insurance above deck). Better to leave us our silly childhood fantasies, I think.

[blam]

FYI.

[#3Fan]

Yeah I saw this earlier. Probably Phoenician. :^)

[blam]

Did you see this? (bump)

[PoisedWoman]

I've been to Fiji and lots of the men and some of the women were 6'2. Why are they calling this a giant?

[Consort]

[SauronOfMordor]

I would not be too surprised at some Phoenicians roaming around the South Pacific.

I could visualize a bunch of Phoenicians, looking for new sea-trading prospects, traveling overland to Babylon, getting some ships built, and sailing east to India, then southeast past the Malasian Islands to Australia. A couple of thousand years later, there was a lively interest in trading for Chinese silk and spices from Ceylon, why not earlier?

[blam]

"I've been to Fiji and lots of the men and some of the women were 6'2.

Isn't that a little tall for people who supposedly originated in the orient?

" Why are they calling this a giant?"

Lol. That's my question.

[AppyPappy]

The FIJI house is across from my church. The term "trash can" is alien to their language.

[Tijeras_Slim]

They do seem to be consistent from college to college.

[AppyPappy]

Milwaukee's Best seems to be the tribe's favorite food.

[LostTribe]

It's a real shame when "These cowboy archaeologists" are given free reign to tear valuable finds apart like a dog looking for bone.

After doing post-Doctoral work at Oxford University in the field of Biblical Archeology I was invited by one of the Profs to participate in his major dig in Israel. Regret to this day that business did not allow the time to go, if for no other reason than just to even briefly be part of a dig that was being done right.

[ruoflaw]

I am sorry that I found this so late...I agree with you... if it hadn't been for "those cowboy archaeologists" the 3000 year old tall man might never have been found... I have had to deal with those so called learned experts and many of them are snots and they have taught me not to trust them.

[Notforprophet]

6'2" was pretty tall 3,000 years ago.

[mamelukesabre]

not compared to goliath.

[blam]

Tall people, over here.

[blam]

GGG.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Isn't that a little tall for people who supposedly originated in the orient?

Tell that to Yao Ming.

[Lucy Lake]

Tall people, over here.

Last night Steve Quayle was saying they came from outer space, married the daughters of earth, and live in the Solomon Islands.

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[Miss Marple]

The Kon-Tiki Expedition was a balsa raft sailing from Peru to Polynesia.

The Ra Expedition was a reed boat which sailed from Morocco to the Caribbean.

[elli1]

Vikings had everything everybody else had. If it wasn't nailed down. And sometimes even if it was.

hehe...I read Stephen Lawhead's Byzantium a couple of months ago and those Vikings were quite the rascals. Supposedly the Viks had to go on those pillaging tours in order to raise enough cash to pay their taxes back home. Getting way off track here, but Byzantium is a good read if you're into epic historical fiction.

[blam]

"The Ra Expedition was a reed boat which sailed from Morocco to the Caribbean."

Yup. My #2 dog is named Ra. (#1 is named 'Tutt' and #3 is 'Nefertiti(Neff)'.

[Happy2BMe]

I think this is just another tall tale.

[ruoflaw]

Nah, you got it right the first time. It is all about jealousy...the official from the museum didn't find it but he wants it. The person that did find it is from the University and it sounds like he or she is an archaeologist and he or she turned the find over to the University (USP)...it is the universities that train anthropologists and archaeologists and the museums have anthropologists and archaeologists that have their Masters degree and they feel vastly superior. You should trust your instinct.

[RightWhale]

Quayle is seriously funny. One moment totally down to earth, next minute talking with giant space aliens. Might be Steve Martin's lost twin.

[DeFault User]

Are they sure it's not Jimmy Hoffa?

...It could be only if the height measured includes the concrete elevator shoes.

[elli1]

Isn't that a little tall for people who supposedly originated in the orient?

Native or aborignal Hawaiians were large statured, too. But then, they came to Hawaii from Polynesia, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised to find some tall skeletons on Fiji.

[Rebelbase]

"Little is known about the highly unusual find, which includes a skull bearing strange holes drilled into its cheekbones,"

She'll be glad to find her ancestors....

[TC Rider]

This official sounds like a snot, but I like the term, "parachute journalist."

I don't know what it means, but I like it.

Picture Dan Blather in a safari jacket.

[ruoflaw]

now that I finally noticed the date of this article, did they ever publish the findings on their find?