Regional Variations and Temporal Changes in the Prehistoric Use of Obsidian and Chert in the North Island of New Zealand

Abstract

Analysis of existing quantitative data on chert and obsidian artefact assemblages from 46 archaeological sites in the North Island of New Zealand/Aotearoa shows there was a significant overall decline in the use of chert during the Early (Archaic) cultural period, between about AD 1250 and AD 1500. This was accompanied by a similar reduction in high-quality Mayor Island obsidian in most regions, but a corresponding increase in the procurement of obsidian from other sources. Such changes can be largely attributed to the development of regionally based exchange networks. There is evidence of further change in the use of obsidian and chert more or less coinciding with the construction of defensive pā ‘fortified sites’ and inferred outbreak of warfare about the end of the Early period ca. AD 1500, although this affected some regions more than others. In Northland and the southern North Island high proportions of chert used at some pā and undefended villages (kainga) were mainly associated with houses. In other regions, use of chert remained at low levels throughout the Late (Classic Māori) period, up until European contact in the late eighteenth century. The data support a gradual and non-synchronous transition from Archaic to Classic Māori culture in the North Island, with greater response to change in some regions than others.