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Valuable and Useful: Mid-Holocene Stemmed Obsidian Artefacts from West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Nick Araho ,
Robin Torrence  and
J. Peter White
Nick Araho
Affiliation:
Prehistory Department, National Museum and Art Gallery, PO Box 5560, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea
Robin Torrence
Affiliation:
Division of Anthropology, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia
J. Peter White
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Abstract

Distinctive obsidian artefacts from West New Britain appear sometime before 3950 cal BC and terminate abruptly at 1650 cal BC. We propose that they had a wide range of meanings for their users and functioned in both utilitarian and ceremonial contexts, similar to more recent ground stone axes from Highland New Guinea. They therefore represent the earliest evidence for valuables in Papua New Guinea. Here we draw together studies of the technology, spatial distribution, and chemical sourcing of the artefacts, along with considerations of fragility and brightness, to evaluate competing models for their function as utilitarian items and as exchange goods. Whereas many artefacts were probably useful tools integrated within a mobile settlement pattern, others were clearly reserved for special functions, and many may have operated in both the utilitarian and ceremonial spheres.

Résumé

Les objets manufacturés en obsidienne, bien particuliers, de l'ouest de la Nouvelle Bretagne font leur apparition à un certain moment avant 3950 av. J.-C. en années calibrées et disparaissent soudainement en 1650 av. J.-C. en années calibrées. Nous suggérons que, pour leurs utilisateurs, ils avaient une gamme étendue de significations et servaient aussi bien dans un contexte utilitaire que cérémonial, tout comme les haches en pierre polie plus récentes de Hautes Terres, Nouvelle Guinée. Ils constituent done les plus anciens témoignages d'objets précieux en Papouasie, Nouvelle-Guinée. Nous rassemblons ici des études sur la technologie, la répartition spatiale et l'origine chimique des objets, qu'accompagnent des considérations sur leur fragilité et leur éclat, afin d'évaluer des modèles conflictuels quant à leur fonction en tant qu'objets utilitaires et produits d'échange. Tandis que beaucoup de ces objets étaient probablement des outils utiles intégrés à l'intérieur d'un système d'occupation itinérante, d'autres étaient clairement réservés à des fonctions spéciales et nombreux sont ceux qui pouvaient opérer à la fois dans la sphère de l'utilitaire et dans celle du cérémoniel.

Résumén

Un tipo característico de artefactos en obsidiana procedente de West New Britain aparece en algún momento antes de 3950 cal aC y desaparece bruscamente alrededor de 1650 cal aC. En este trabajo, proponemos que tales artefactos tuvieron una amplia gama de significados para sus usuarios, y que fueron utilizados en contextos tanto funcionales como rituales, de modo similar a un tipo más tardío de hachas pulidas procedentes de las montañas de Nueva Guinea. Estos artefactos representan, por tanto, la más temprana evidencia de objetos de lujo en Papua Nueva Guinea. En este trabajo, analizamos conjuntamente los resultados de los estudios sobre la tecnología, distribución espacial y análisis químicos de procedencia de estos artefactos, junto con consideraciones sobre su fragilidad y brillo, para evaluar diferentes modelos sobre su función como objetos utilitarios y como objetos de intercambio. Si bien muchos de los artefactos probablemente constituyeron herramientas útiles integradas dentro de un modelo nómadico de asentamiento, otros estuvieron claramente reservados para ocasiones especiales, y muchos pudieron haber sido utilizados tanto en un contexto utilitario como ceremonial.

Zusammenfassung

Auffällige Obsidianartefakte aus West-Neubritannien treten von 3950 cal BC auf und verschwinden plötzlich um 1650 cal BC. Wir sind der Auffassung, dass sie ein breites Spektrum von Bedeutungen für ihre Nutzer hatten und ihre Rolle sowohl in funktionalem als auch zeremoniellem Kontext spielten, ähnlich jüngeren geschliffenen Steinäxten aus dem Hochland Neu Guineas. Deshalb stellen sie den frühesten Nachweis für Wertgegenstände in Papua Neu Guinea dar. Wir werten hier Studien zur Technologie, räumlichen Verteilung und chemischen Zusammensetzung aus, zusammen mit Überlegungen zu Fragilität und Aussehen, um verschiedene Modelle zu ihrer Funktion als Gebrauchsgegenstände wie auch als Austauschgüter zu bewerten. Waren viele Artefakte sicherlich nützliche Werkzeuge innerhalb einer mobilen Siedlungsweise, wurden andere offensichtlich für einen speziellen Gebrauch reserviert, und viele mögen sowohl in funktionalen als auch in zeremoniellen Sphären in Aktion getreten sein.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 68 , 2002 , pp. 61 - 81
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2002

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