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| Correspondence
from Eric W. West |
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I have been working with archaeologist Barry Rolett and geologist
John Sinton on geochemical sourcing of adzes. This summer the three
of us visited and documented two prehistoric adze quarries. One was
on the island of Raiatea in the Societies, and the other was an enormous
quarry on the island of Rurutu [Austral Islands]. Preliminary studies
indicate that there were not a lot of quarries which had fine grain
basalt, therefore these production centers were important for exchange
between different islands. We have been using this line of evidence to show how prehistoric voyaging changed over time. Once we have a signature for a particular quarry, we will find adzes and adze flakes from these quarries in archaeological contexts which allow them to be dated. These studies have shown that inter island, and inter-archipelago voyaging was much more frequent in early periods (approx. 300 AD - 1300 AD) and tapered off in to the historic periods of different islands. Eiao is probably the largest quarry in all of Polynesia and adzes from this island have been found in the Society islands, Cook islands, Line islands, Marquesas islands and probably will be found in more places as research continues. Mauna Kea may be the second largest quarry in East Polynesia with the quarry on Rurutu rivaling it in size. I believe there is a lot of potential for Mauna Kea as a center for adze production and exchange within the Hawaiian island chain, however I would be surprised if it went beyond that to central East Polynesian island groups. My paper goes into more depth on why I think that is. The evidence right now is based on the forms of the adzes. Hawaii has primarily archaic forms of adzes (square cross-sections) which suggests that the islands were not in regular contact with the southern Polynesian islands. There is evidence of sporadic visits from the Society islands during the later periods based on oral histories, but there is no solid evidence for regularized visits or exchange. However, the only way to know for sure is for someone to document the chemical signature of the Mauna Kea quarry and to look for that stone on other islands within and outside of the Hawaiian chain. So far this has not been done. Eric W. West ewest@hawaii.edu see also: “Prehistoric voyaging and the East Polynesian homeland: an analysis of adzes from Eiao Island in the Northern Marquesas” by Eric W. West, UH Manoa: Hamilton Pacific, Call number GN875.P64 W47 2000 |