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The tunnel underneath Auckland's Victoria Park - Source: ONE News -
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An archaeologist has been brought in after an old pistol was unearthed during construction of the Victoria Park Tunnel near Auckland's waterfront.
The semi-loaded pistol was discovered in an old well last month, and it could have even been a murder weapon.
"The pistol was found on the very base of the well so it looks like it was thrown in there while the well was still in use," said Archaeologist Sarah Phean.
"Unfortunately the handle has rotted away (but) it would have been wooden."
The gun is being soaked in a lab to try and preserve what is left.
"The whole metal double barrel and the two triggers have been preserved," Phean said.
"One of them (triggers) was fired so that certainly leads to interesting questions as to why it was fired and why it ended up in the bottom of the well."
"A possible murder weapon? Perhaps yes but we'll never know. We will certainly do some research through the old newspaper clippings."
The mystery has not slowed tunnel progress. It's still on track to be finished early next year.
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