When I started carving seriously in 1990 I studied Maori carvings because that is the what we have in NZ. The Maori people have kept the carving tradition alive, together with their language. Of course the carving tradition changed with the introduction of metal chisels instead of stone tools. This ORIGINAL carving (3.) appeals to me both because it is ancient and executed with stone tools, and for its subject matter which goes right back to the beginning of time, a version of the Creation story. After having studied Maori Motifs by carving small panels, I had a go at this one. It is not a straight copy. The original is half round, with the back flat. I translated the design to a flat, machined RIMU panel 20 mm thick in picture 2, using a router. In picture 3, I spiced 50mm totara, with one natural side together, and pierced the background decoration. I feel that some wood carvings are meant to be copied to keep them alive.