New Zealand Journal of Archaeology Index  >  Vol 25 Burley

 

NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY ISSN 0110~540X ABSTRACT

 

 

The Volcanic Outlier of ‘Ata

in Tongan Prehistory:

Reconsideration of its Role and Settlement Chronology

 

David V. Burley1, David W. Steadman2 and Atholl Anderson3

 

ABSTRACT

A 1977 archaeological survey and test excavation project on ‘Ata, an uninhabited

volcanic outlier in far southern Tonga, concluded that the island was first occupied

in later prehistory, and that the settlement was isolated and marginal. Additional

reconnaissance carried out in 2001 provides new data on which to reconsider these

conclusions. Other than the later occupation as reported, surface recovery of

Polynesian Plainware ceramics indicates first settlement took place considerably

earlier, ca. 2200–1800 BP. Adze production debitage in association with these

ceramics, as well as widespread evidence for adze preform manufacture during the

later period, identifies ‘Ata as a potential source for fine-grained adze basalts

throughout its occupation. Because suitable lithics were absent on most of the

inhabited islands in Tonga, ‘Ata and other of Tonga’s volcanic islands would have

been important and critical resource locales. It is believed that exploitation and export

of this material was a probable stimulus for settlement and for continued occupation

into later prehistory.

 

Keywords: ARCHAEOLOGY, TONGA, LITHIC SOURCE, ADZE PRODUCTION.

 

1Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada

2Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

3Research School of Asian and Pacific Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Ó Copyright New Zealand Archaeological Association.

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