Adapting Polynesian Adze Technology to New Raw Material at Tiwai Point, Murihiku, New Zealand

Bibliographic Data

ID21068428
AuthorsCammie Jennings (0000-0002-1463-2004, The University of Queensland, corresponding author), Marshall Weisler (0000-0002-2336-2544, The University of Queensland)
Year2020
Volume45
Issue4
Pages247-262
Publication date2020-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLithic Technology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0197-7261 • E-ISSN: 2051-6185
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01977261.2020.1782591
OpenAlexW3036385880
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited13

The Tiwai Point site in Bluff Harbour, Murihiku (Southland) was occupied early in the first century of New Zealand settlement (∼1300 AD). The site was the largest production center of Bluff argillite adzes that supplied settlements up to 500 km distant. This tough recrystalized mudstone was obtained from sources throughout Bluff Harbour and it presented new opportunities and challenges to pioneering Polynesian adze makers. Although suitable for producing Polynesian adze forms, it is tougher than tropical Polynesian basalts and required the development of novel manufacturing techniques. To understand these technological innovations, we produced 155 3D models of Bluff argillite adzes, preforms and blanks from the 1968 Tiwai Point excavation to model adze manufacture using various forms of the raw material. We found a heavy reliance on hammer-dressing as a practical means of working an unusually tough material with variable grain-size anda high potential risk of breakage

Archaeology · Bluff · Excavation · Geography · Harbour · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Geology