Mystery Earthworks to be Investigated

£ Administration of P-NG, topes to begin an investigation oon into the origin of a set of crious earthworks in the ern Highlands, which, local e legends say, were built by irlier race of people, e series of big mounds was vered on a property about four ; east of Mount Hagen when is being cleared for the plant -3f coffee. ey are 70 feet long, 30 feet , and rise three feet above ground. hough no detailed examination yet been made of the mounds, stone axes and 30 cooking ;s, all of antique design, have found in the vicinity, cal natives have been unable irow any light on their origin, e Administration took action reserve the mounds when they discovered last year and the ig Director of Native Affairs, J. K. McCarthy said in April

that it was hoped proper investiga tion into their origin would begin soon.

“Opinion has been expressed, but not proved, that they may be burial mounds,” he said.

Mr. McCarthy said in various parts of New Guinea stone mortars and pestles used by an unidentified former race, probably for grinding grain, had been found.

The mortars were oblong stones with a hollow in the centre, and the pestles were from four to nine inches long.

“These things are treated with great reverence by the natives who can only say they belonged to an unknown former race,” Mr.

McCarthy said.

He said another unexplained mystery was the discovery in 1935 on Kiriwina Island of a cave con taining fragments of pottery and human skulls and bones.

No one yet has been able to identify their origin.