High spatial resolution of pollen and charcoal in relation to the c600-year-BP Kaharoa Tephra: Implications for Polynesian settlement of Great Barrier Island, Northern New Zealand
M. Horrocks et al., High spatial resolution of pollen and charcoal in relation to the c600-year-BP Kaharoa Tephra: Implications for Polynesian settlement of Great Barrier Island, Northern New Zealand, J ARCH SCI, 28(2), 2001, pp. 153-168
Analysis of high spatial resolution of nine pollen profiles (150m-6,5km apa
rt) from Great Barrier Island shows that between 7500 and 600 calibrated ye
ar BP, the island had a low frequency of natural fires compared with elsewh
ere in the northern North Island. Except for one site which has locally sou
rced pre-Kaharoa charcoal, source of this charcoal in the Awana-Kaitoke are
a is uncertain. If local pre-Kaharoa burning did occur at other sites in th
is area, it was patchy, occurring at different times in different places, a
nd was small-scale. Charcoal was first recorded c.1700 year BP, then again
after c.1200 year BP. Pre-Kaharoa charcoal on Great Barrier may be interpre
ted as either an increased frequency of natural fires in the region due to
climatic change to drier conditions, or small-scale, localized initial huma
n impact, or some combination of these factors. Major post-Kaharoa burning
in the Awana-Kaitoke area was also patchy, commencing at different times in
different places. The presence of the Kaharoa Tephra on Great Barrier Isla
nd allows the commencement of major, sustained Polynesian deforestation at
Awana-Kaitoke to be reliably dated to c.600 year BP at some sites, and poss
ibly up to 50 years later at other sites. Copyright 2001 Academic Press