Abstract

A large collection of artefacts and faunal material recovered 60 years ago from an excavation on the island of Motutapu, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand is described for the first time. The occupation site primarily functioned as an adze manufactory using a nearby source of indurated greywacke. Large numbers of adzes at various stages of manufacture through to fully polished form are present. Other artefacts are bone and shell fish hooks, lure shanks, bone needles, a bird spear point, a probable bull roarer, and a seal-tooth pendant. Faunal remains consist of shellfish, marine fish, sea mammals, and birds. The site has a complex stratigraphical history, but radiocarbon dates suggest a relatively brief period of occupation ranging from AD 1400 to 1500.

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• 'Archaeological excavations at Pig Bay (N38/21, R10/22), Motutapu Island, Auckland, New Zealand, in 1958 and 1959'
• Last updated on: 18 Jul 2019 | File Size: 3.5 MB

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