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Archaeology and Shell Adzes in Prehistoric Oceania: a Revised Methodological Approach to the Descriptive Analysis of a Solomon Islands Collection

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Archaeology and Shell Adzes in Prehistoric Oceania: a Revised Methodological Approach to the Descriptive Analysis of a Solomon Islands Collection Archaeology and Shell Adzes in Prehistoric Oceania: A Revised Methodological Approach to the Descriptive Analysis of a Solomon Islands Collection Charles Radclyffe A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for BA (Hons) in Anthropology at the University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand 9th October 2015 Abstract This dissertation examines archaeological study of shell adzes in the Pacific. It provides a critical review of archaeological methodology and terminology used in descriptive analysis of this artefact class. It raises important problems that are hindering this subject including a lack of clarity and conformity in the selection of criteria used to describe shell adzes, ambiguity in nomenclature, and the restricted capacity of existing criteria to accommodate a wide range of morphological variation of these artefacts. In addition, it argues that archaeologists have focused almost exclusively on describing typological variation for culture historical purposes. This is problematic as it has resulted in the neglect of a wider range of issues important in shell adze study, specifically technology, function and ecology. A revised methodology is proposed to address these problems and is applied in the descriptive analysis of two collections of shell adzes from Solomon Islands: one stored at the Otago Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand and the other at Solomon Islands National Museum in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The morphological and metric characteristics of the different shell adze varieties is described, as well as evidence of manufacturing processes involved in their creation. The findings of this analysis are then discussed in relation to their implications for broadening shell adze analysis by incorporating technological, functional and ecological issues. Problems encountered in the analysis are highlighted, and recommendations are made to further develop methodology in shell adze analysis. iii Acknowledgements Honours year was tough. But it would have been a lot tougher without the encouragement and willing assistance provided by the following people. Thanks, first and foremost, goes to my supervisor Richard Walter. Thank you for your steady guidance and support, and for putting up with my ever-shifting draft deadlines. Other people associated with the department who I’d like to show my appreciation include Marshall Weisler, Les O’Neill, Tim Thomas, Phil Latham, Emma Brooks and Chris Jacomb. Thanks Marshall for your generous assistance with shell adze identification and for your advice for my future studies! Thanks Les for helping me with those pesky maps and your useful suggestions. Cheers Tim for helping me out with references, and thanks Phil for sorting out the lab and drawing gear. Thank you kindly Emma and Chris for your tips for writing, editing, etc and helping me with printing! Thanks in general to the Archaeology Department, staff and students. You’re a great bunch. This dissertation would not have been possible without the permission and helpfulness of the staff at the Otago Museum (OM) and Solomon Islands National Museum (SINM). At OM, I owe an enormous thank you to Jamie Metzger, Scott Reeves and Moira White. Thanks Jamie for your time, patience and friendliness! Thank you Scott for your amazing photography skills, and Moira for giving me the opportunity to study artefacts from my home country. At SINM, I am indebted to Lawrence Kiko, Rita Sahu, Tony Heorake and the always welcoming museum staff. Tangio tumas Lawrence and Rita for giving me access to the archaeological samples and letting me work in the air conditioned room! It really helped. Thanks also Katherine Szabo for the helpful references. Last but not least, thank you family and friends for your support. Thanks paps, big sis and any others who took time out of their day (not always voluntarily) to help me with editing or to simply have a chat about shell adzes! Big shout out to the rest of ARCH490/ANTH490 students. Thanks for making this year a memorable one! Apologies if I’ve adzedidently missed anyone. I hope you shell forgive me. Tangio tumas ui fala eferi wan! iv Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements.................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ............................................................................................................ vii List of Figures ......................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Stone Adze Study........................................................................................... 1 1.2 Shell Adze Study ........................................................................................... 3 1.3 Research Aims ............................................................................................... 4 1.4 Outline of following Chapters ........................................................................ 5 Chapter 2 Review ....................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Polynesia ....................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Micronesia ................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Melanesia..................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Discussion ................................................................................................... 20 2.5 Summary ..................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 3 Methodology ........................................................................................... 23 3.1 Context of Museum Collections of Shell Adzes ........................................... 24 3.2 Nomenclature............................................................................................... 26 Valve Anatomy ................................................................................... 26 Definitions of Cutting-Implements ...................................................... 29 Adze Terminology .............................................................................. 32 3.3 Criteria Selection ......................................................................................... 36 Discrete Variables ............................................................................... 37 Metric Variables ................................................................................. 44 Indices ................................................................................................ 45 3.4 Summary ..................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 4 Results ..................................................................................................... 47 4.1 Material ....................................................................................................... 47 4.2 Description of Shell Adze Varieties ............................................................. 48 Tridacnidae ......................................................................................... 48 Cassidae .............................................................................................. 53 Terebridae ........................................................................................... 55 v Strombidae .......................................................................................... 56 4.3 Metric Variation & Correlations ................................................................... 56 Length and Thickness ......................................................................... 56 Cutting Edge Width and Adze Angles ................................................. 58 Correlation of Angle of Attack with Cutting Edge and Bevel Shape .... 60 4.4 Evidence of Manufacturing Processes .......................................................... 61 Manufacturing Techniques .................................................................. 62 Manufacturing Sequence of C. cornuta Adzes ..................................... 63 Tridacna Valve Morphology and Manufacture .................................... 65 Butt Modification ................................................................................ 68 4.5 Summary ..................................................................................................... 69 Chapter 5 Discussion and Conclusions.................................................................... 71 5.1 Summary of Shell Adze Sample ................................................................... 71 5.2 Technological, Ecological and Functional Implications ................................ 72 Technology ......................................................................................... 72 Ecology .............................................................................................. 75 Function .............................................................................................. 76 5.3 Methodology in Shell Adze Analysis ........................................................... 78 Problems and Recommendations ........................................................
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