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Changes in Admiralty Islands obsidian source use: the view from Pamwak
Author(s) -
Fredericksen Clayton
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
archaeology in oceania
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1834-4453
pISSN - 0728-4896
DOI - 10.1002/j.1834-4453.1997.tb00372.x
Subject(s) - archaeology , pleistocene , new guinea , context (archaeology) , holocene , manus , geology , geography , oceanography , paleontology , history , ethnology
I report the results of characterisation analysis of obsidian from Pamwak shelter on Manus in the Admiralty Islands (Papua New Guinea). Evidence is presented that the first transport of obsidian to the shelter occurred in the terminal Pleistocene, probably from an offshore source. A mid Holocene change to the use of predominantly Pam Islands obsidian is noted. The use of significant amounts of Lou obsidian, a material widely used and traded after 3500 BP, is identified as occurring only late in the sequence. The implications of these changes in the context of Wal Ambrose's research are discussed.