Prehistoric Sites On Pitcairn Is.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30374, 25 February 1964, Page 16

Prehistoric Sites On Pitcairn Is.

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 24. The main party of the University of Otago archaeological expedition to Pitcairn Island returned in the Corinthic today after six weeks and a half on the island where it carried out the first extensive investigation of prehistoric Polynesian sites.

The expedition recorded the distribution of surface occupation evidence which was found in many parts of the island and excavated three major and a number of minor sites. “It is fairly clear that the pre-Bounty Polynesian occupation took two main forms,” said the party’s leader, Mr P. Gathercole. “Of overriding significance was the quarrying of an excellent fine-grained basalt which was worked into adzes and other tools,” he said. “Although evidence of tool manufacture was found in manj places, the most dramatic example was at a factory site on the south coast where large quantities of adze roughouts and perhaps other tools were made. “The working area covers approximately two acres and the ground surface is littered with thousands of flakes as well as many cores, rejected roughouts, hammer stones and beach boulders which were apparently used as anvils." Mr Gathercole said the extent of the factory suggested it was the main attraction of Pitcairn to the pre-historic Polynesians. The expedition also discovered evidence that the island was not just visited from elsewhere in eastern Polynesia to obtain stone. From time to time, at least, it was settled on a more permanent basis. Two habitation sites, one

near the present-day settlement of Adamstown and one on the west side of the island, were investigated. Mr Gathercole said the site near Adamstown appeared to have had an intensive occupation. Wooden structures were built and probably rebuilt. Shellfish, small fish and pigs at least were eaten and possibly food stored in pits. At the other settlement both structures and evidence of an extensive range of stone-working activities were found. The expedition was sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of the United States and formed part of an extensive research programme in Polynesia under the general direction of officials of the Bishop Museum, Honolulu.