Stone artefacts from the Emily Bay settlement site, Norfolk Island

Abstract

The lithic material from the Emily Bay site consists principally of basalt flakes, blades, preforms and adzes. There are also a small number of obsidian artefacts. The basalt assemblage has been analysed primarily to describe the technology of adze manufacture, which occurred along with reworking of broken preforms and finished adzes. The pattern of adze production is very similar to that found in New Zealand sites. No complete finished adzes were recovered, but the flake material indicates that Duff (1977) Types 1, 2, 3 and 4 were being made. Sourcing studies show that the basalt is local. Sourcing of obsidian shows that nearly all came from Raoul Island (Kermadecs) while one piece may be from New Zealand. Use wear and residues, notably starch grains, were found on many of the sample of 10 basalt and five obsidian artefacts analysed and the range of activities represented is congruent with a permanent or semi-permanent village rather than a temporary camp.