A forensic pathologist is looking at photos of a skull found on a Northland beach in a bid to work out an age and a possible answer to who it may be.
The skull was found washed up near Houhora Heads last Friday and was reported to Houhora policewoman Senior Constable Tracee Knowler.
Ms Knowler posted a photo of the skull lying on the beach on the Houhora Police Facebook page and said she had taken the skull for safekeeping and to verify its approximate age. Photos had been forwarded to a forensic expert for an opinion as to its origins. Once that had been done the remains would be put to rest.
The discovery of remains like this is not uncommon in the Houhora area, where there are many pre-European Maori burial sites. However, the post on the social media sight drew a mixed response with some followers questioning if it was an appropriate forum to have pictures made public.
"... the skull was found by local iwi who reported it to police ..." Ms Knowler said.