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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Foundation

Foundation.

The houses were built on the level surface of the ground. The raised stone or coral foundations now seen are associated with houses of lime or sawn timber and were due to European influence. Fairly large stones of the kind known as pohatu maori were placed round the outside walls, and, in old village sites, serve to define the positions occupied by the houses. These larger stones were also run out in single rows to define the pathway leading to the page 2door with a rectangular space on either side. In the old village sites examined, the overgrowth and changes due to cultivation prevented a perfect house site from being discovered. At Nukunoni, however, the front side of a house as shown by the line of stones with the corners well defined, measured 20 feet 6 inches.