Burial Cave
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 27 Oct 2013 23:37
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Anaana Burial
Cave
  Caves were once used by the early
settlers for shelter, for protection from hostile forces and in some instances
as their final resting ground. Oral traditions tell of a custom which required
those who have departed on their final journey be kept in a separate cave until
all that remained were the bones. These were then carefully collected for burial
in the main dwelling cave. The bones were often placed together with other
prized possessions, such as white cowry shell, fish bone pendants and adze heads
hewn from basalt rock. In larger caves all the bones were put together in a
separate chamber and covered with stones. Just off the main road and a few steps
down we found the cave, one of the few ancient burial caves that can be readily
accessed.
 
 
  We stood for a few minutes – simply
amazed that not only here, but everywhere we have explored on the island, we
have paid not one dollar in entry fees, seen a single guard and had facilities
at most of the tracks and treks. Apparently had we visited five years ago the
facilities would not have been built.
   A few moments later we stopped at the
Anaana Lookout Point to admire the view.
ALL IN ALL STILL AMAZED AT
WHAT THIS ISLAND HAS TO OFFER
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