New Zealand Journal of Archaeology Index  >  Vol 30 Kahn

Adze Production in the Papeno'o Valley, Tahiti, Society Islands: Technological Analysis of the Putoura (TPP-035) Workshop Assemblage

Jennifer G. Kahn¹

ABSTRACT

This study provides a technological and typological analysis of adzes, blanks, and preforms recovered from workshop site TPP-035 (Putoura), located in the Papeno'o Valley, Tahiti, a major regional adze production centre in the Windward Society Islands. The Papeno'o research provides a case study of adze manufacture in a resource-rich zone of high qualify raw material. A range of raw material procurement practices was used to reduce both flake blanks and prismatic basalt cores. A variety of adze types was manufactured, with Type 3A adzes dominating. There is some evidence for reworking broken preforms and, in particular, broken and finished adzes. Adze manufacture at the Putoura workshops appears to have taken place within a ritualised context and, perhaps, in close association to rites carried out at a nearby marae and simple shrine. In this way, adze production within the Papeno'o Valley may be similar to other major Eastern Polynesian production centres (e.g., Mauna Kea, Eiao) and smaller production locales (Kaho'olawe), where adze manufacture was spatially associated with ceremonial shrines and is inferred to have taken place under ritual constraints.

Keywords: SOCIETY 1SEANDS, TAHITI, PAPENO'O VALLEY, QUARRY, ADZE TYPES, MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES, REDUCTION MODELS, TOOL MAINTENANCE AND REWORKING, RITUAL ADZE PRODUCTION.

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1  Bernice P. Bishop Museum,  1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI. 96817-2704, USA. jetmifer.kahii@bishopimiseum.org

Ó Copyright New Zealand Archaeological Association.  

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