In what sounds like the plot of Tomb Raider III, a German archaeologist has uncovered a mass of unmarked graves revealing almost 800 long-decaying bodies. Dr Hans-Dieter Bader of Archaeology Solutions Ltd took to Central Otago with his fluxgate gradiometer and hand-held GPS unit to reveal the bodies, which date to before 1900, after walking over more than 25sq km of cemetery ground in the area in May last year.
Dr Bader has over 25 years’ experience covering all aspects of New Zealand archaeology. His fluxgate gradiometer, which he may or may not have stolen from a Star Trek set, measures magnetic variations in the earth by penetrating the ground with radar to rapidly search for disturbed areas of earth, from which potential unmarked graves can be identified.
Critic initially assumed the finding to indicate either an alien invasion, an early exploratory committee of the Peoples Temple, or an extremely large Brazilian nightclub. However, a report of Dr Bader’s findings claims that unmarked graves are commonly found in “cemeteries located in settler or first generation landscapes.” The report goes on to say that establishing ethnic, cultural and religious foundations of New Zealand meant this was a “period of mobility, impermanence and change.” Critic happily reminisces on a time when “pop her on the heap” was an acceptable method of body disposal, and is now preoccupied with securing a viable plot of land in which to discard previous editors.
The project was instigated after a 2010 Central Otago District Council-produced document revealed that unmarked gravesites were present at the majority of cemeteries in the district, and that such sites could not be used for burials and therefore presented operational issues.
The report is to be presented to the district’s community boards, after which the administrators of each cemetery may decide how to proceed with the information.
800 People Found Dead!
