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Long‐distance connections in V anuatu: New obsidian characterisations for the M akué site, A ore I sland
Author(s) -
Galipaud JeanChristophe,
Reepmeyer Christian,
Torrence Robin,
Kelloway Sarah,
White Peter
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
archaeology in oceania
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1834-4453
pISSN - 0728-4896
DOI - 10.1002/arco.5030
Subject(s) - colonisation , archaeology , dominance (genetics) , geology , chemistry , geography , colonization , biochemistry , gene
Abstract A geochemical study using pXRF and LA–ICP – MS to characterise artefacts from sites dating to the initial phase of colonisation on A ore and M alo islands, V anuatu, has confirmed the dominance of obsidian from the distant K utau/ B ao source in W est N ew B ritain, with a smaller group from local outcrops in the B anks I slands, V anuatu. Three flakes from the U mleang/ U mrei source in the A dmiralty I slands have also been identified in later levels. Distance fall‐off analysis of metric and technological attributes suggests that during the early phase of human colonisation of R emote O ceania, obsidian circulated within a series of separate, loosely connected social spheres.