Geochemistry and technology of basaltic glass artefacts from an embedded source and two high-altitude base camps in the Mauna Kea Adze Quarry complex, Hawaiʻi

Author:

Bolhar, Robert, Feng, Yue-Xing, McCoy, Patrick C., St Pierre, Emma J., Weisler, Marshall

Title:

Geochemistry and technology of basaltic glass artefacts from an embedded source and two high-altitude base camps in the Mauna Kea Adze Quarry complex, Hawaiʻi

Periodical:

Journal of Pacific Archaeology

Year:

2015

Volume:

6

Pages:

1-20

Subject:

Basalt Mauna Kea Mauna Kea Adze Quarry Puʻu Waʻawaʻa

Summary:

Comprehensive geochemical analyses of a small sample of flakes from the source and base camps of Mauna Kea Adze Quarry complex confirm that all but one of the rock shelter artifacts are local basaltic glass. The one anomalous sample with an unusually vitreous appearance is a trachytic glass flake sourced to Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a, a volcanic cone located ~40 km west of the Mauna Kea Adze Quarry and source of the best quality and most used volcanic glass on Hawaiʻi Island, which suggests that it was an offering or gift and not part of some down-the-line exchange network, as often assumed in the case of volcanic glass artifacts found in coastal habitation sites. Although there is no conclusive evidence that any of the Mauna Kea basaltic glass was exported, it is a possibility that needs to be considered in future studies of volcanic glass distribution patterns. The authors suggest comprehensive geochemical techniques and reporting the data in full to characterize sources/quarries and to provide robust matches of artifacts to sources.

Label:

Archaeology - Mauna Kea Adze Quarry

Collection:

Periodicals