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

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