The cave was uncovered by road workers in 1889, and is considered to be one of the greatest archaelogical sites in New Zealand.

[1] The workmen cleared and dug through the base of the hill, which led to the discovery of the entrance to the cave.

The cave showed evidence of previous fires by the amount of charcoal found on the roof.

Other artefacts discovered include a carved paddle, a canoe bailer, a wooden carving of a dog, fragments of a fishing net, a number of greenstone axe, an amount of black hair and bones of fish and moa, which were found in another cave inside the main one.

[5] Due to the many artefacts found in the cave, it is considered to be one of the greatest archaeological finds in New Zealand.