AWA: Academic Writing at Auckland

Introduction

Understanding the formation of the archaeological record has long been acknowledged as important in providing accurate interpretations of finds and their contexts (Wood and Johnson, 1978). While many studies have been carried out on taphonomy in relation to artefact distribution, few seem to have been applied in New Zealand. Holdaway et al. (2005) and Walter, Smith and Jacomb (2006) describe the importance of both features and artefact distributions in defining social structure and functions of Maori sites. Pa and kaianga are the most visible sites of prehistoric origin but their location on hills, points and volcanic cones, exposes them to erosional processes. This should cause movement of material down the slope, potentially creating problems in interpreting social aspects of structures and sites. Bioturbation from plants and animals could also mix layers (Wood and Johnson, 1978). Clearly understanding the processes at work is necessary to unravelling the record, yet this has not been investigated fully in New Zealand.

Slope wash has been well examined in other regions since the 1970s and application here in New Zealand of these studies should be beneficial in reviewing site formation on terraced and sloped areas (Rick, 1976; Field and Banning, 1998). On Great Mercury Island the kaianga associated with Tamawera in the northwest is one such site comprised of stone-faced earth terraces, stone walls and other stone and earth features. These terraces are believed to have been used and abandoned sometime between the 16^th century and European contact although dates are not yet certain. Collapsed walls and terrace faces allude to the degree of erosion and downslope movement occurring on the site yet the influence this has had on the artefacts is unclear.

Rick (1976) suggested that downslope movement should manifest as size sorting. This has been demonstrated more recently in many sites around the world using a number of different methods aided by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (Kvamme, 1998; Balme, Beck and Theunissen, 1998; Doelman, 2005; Lenoble, Bertran and Lacrampe, 2008; Gouma, Jan van Wijngaarden and Soetens, 2011). Social spaces have also been analysed with this technology using distribution patterns to infer the function of specific areas and cultural practices involved in deposition of artefacts (Barcelo and Pallares, 1998; Hardy-Smith and Edwards, 2004; Scheiber and Finley, 2010). The potential of GIS in analyses of spatial distribution, temporal relationships and social spaces has been established by Holdaway et al. (2005) in New Zealand at the historical Maori village site of Oropuriri. Similarly, this study will use GIS to locate individual artefacts and features uncovered throughout the excavations at Tamawera during February 2014 to determine whether size sorting is apparent and identify patterns that may be helpful in understanding site formation, temporal sequencing and use of space. This addresses one of the key aims of the Ahuahu/Great Mercury Island Project, to investigate the processes involved in taphonomy and discard of artefacts.

Method

To achieve this individual artefacts and fire cracked rocks will be weighed and measured for maximum length and width. Depth of material and features will be analysed using a Harris matrix compiled from mini-matrix data recorded on layer and feature forms from the excavations. All will be linked to the GIS database to define the stratigraphy and therefore temporal sequence of the site (Spikins et al., 2002). Quantitative analyses (e.g. kernel analysis, k-means tests and chi-square tests) will be performed to define any spatial patterning on terraces and around features as well as across the site in general providing two and three dimensional relationship information and highlighting statistically significant trends and patterns, while visual representations will likely include rasters and coded maps (Anderson and Burke, 2008; D’Andrea, Gallotti and Piperno, 2002; Moyes, 2002; Gallotti, Lembo and Peretto, 2012; Oron and Goren-Inbar, 2013). If size sorting is unable to be discerned strongly then this will suggest that the patterns are related to cultural discard allowing for the analysis and interpretation of this behaviour (Runnels, Karimali and Cullen, 2003).

Data

This analysis will use GIS data gathered by robotic total stations and artefacts during the excavations of the 2014 field school on Great Mercury Island at the site of Tamawera. In total four excavation areas known as EA102, EA106, EA107 and EA108 were opened during the two week period which are believed to represent a storage pit and three domestic terraces. Features found within the domestic terraces included postholes, a drain, hearths, fire scoops and deposits of faunal material. Stone artefacts retrieved were mainly flakes, however there were also adzes, fishing lures and a possible grinding stone. Artefacts were made from a mixture of obsidian, chert, basalt, and petrified wood. A reasonable quantity of fire cracked rock and water rolled stones were found which were likely to have been sourced locally. Large numbers of artefacts were also removed from the sieves. While these lack the precise provenience information of those recorded in situ they may still be used in the raster images to determine density in specific unit layers.

Conclusion

Understanding taphonomic and discard patterns is a key aim of the Great Mercury Island Project. It provides information not only on the post-depositional processes which affect the record but also gives insight into social practices related to use of space and management of waste by the association of clusters with particular features. It is possible that the small gradient on the terraces at Tamawera and stone facings may have worked to minimise the effects of slopewash as similar factors at other sites around the world have been shown to do (Runnels, Karimali and Cullen, 2003). If so then social factors in the deposition of artefacts may be analysed. The temporal aspect should work to highlight whether taphonomic factors have remained constant over time and define relationships between individual features, artefacts and structures in this dimension across the excavation areas.

If Walter, Smith and Jacomb’s (2006) ideas of transient villages are correct then temporal analysis should show periods of abandonment and reoccupation with associated rebuilding as well as possible variation in the function or use of particular terraces. This study will also illustrate the value of spatial distribution analysis to understanding the formation of pa and other sites located on slopes in New Zealand and statistically test the already established belief that Maori sites have extremely structured patterns of use and discard (Holdaway et al., 2005; Walter, Smith and Jacomb, 2006). In a wider Pacific context inferences of social structure, mobility and use of space may be used to compare with other Polynesian sites to determine the influence of environmental factors on cultural practices.

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