Ancient human remains discovered at a Northland beach have been laid to rest.
The woman's skeleton was found at Motukahakaha Bay, left, and buried at an urupā in Waimahana Bay. Photo: Google Earth
The complete skeleton, of an adult woman, was discovered in an eroding area of sand at Motukahakaha Bay (Paradise Bay) yesterday.
A heritage archaeologist who examined the remains, James Robinson, said the bones were from a pre-Christian burial, and were probably hundreds of years old.
After being blessed by a local kaumatua, Dave Henare, they were buried in the Patau urupā (burial ground) in nearby Waimahana Bay.
Mr Henare said similar discoveries had been made in the same area before.