New Zealand Journal of Archaeology Index  >  Vol 25 Dickinson

 

 

NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY
ISSN 0110~540X

ABSTRACT

 

Petrography of Polynesian Plainware

from ‘Ata, Tonga

 

William R. Dickinson1

 

ABSTRACT

The temper sands in two representative potsherds of Polynesian Plainware collected

from the surface on the central plateau of ‘Ata, the southernmost island of Tonga, are

poorly to moderately sorted aggregates of angular to subangular volcanic sand

apparently derived from pyroclastic strata exposed over wide areas in the interior of

‘Ata. The tempers are unlike any in the several hundred prehistoric sherds that have

been examined in thin section from elsewhere in Tonga, and indicate local

manufacture of pottery on ‘Ata.

 

Keywords: PETROGRAPHY, TEMPER SANDS, POLYNESIAN PLAINWARE,

‘ATA, TONGA.

 

1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721, USA

Ó Copyright New Zealand Archaeological Association.

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