Stone tool production at Cat's Eye Point, Kā̄kanui, North Otago, New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis exammes a lithic assemblage from Cat's Eye Point (142/4), Kakanui, North Otago, New Zealand. This Archaic site was excavated during 1996 and 1997 and the lithic assemblage was collected from 4 lm2 excavated during these two seasons. Previous studies of lithic material from New Zealand and the Pacific are reviewed to indicate the range of information that can be gained from lithic analysis. Themes of research in the North Otago region are also examined to place Cat's Eye Point into its regional context.

This thesis had three main areas of investigation. The first involved a descriptive and technological analysis of the debitage using mass flake analysis (MF A) and individual flake analysis (IF A). Formal artefacts, such as hammerstones, blanks, and preforms, were also examined. Secondly, spatial analysis was used to determine if the lithic assemblage could be used to infer intra-site activity areas. This was conducted by analysing macro- (flakes larger than 3mm) and microdebitage (flakes less than 3mm) by examining the range of material types. The third area of investigation examined debitage recovered from 6.4mm (1/4 inch) and 3.2mm (1/8 inch) sieves to determine if any significant technological information was gained by debitage from the 3 .2mm sieve.

The conclusions of this study indicate that there were two methods of basalt cobble reduction at Cat's Eye Point for adze production. Adze production at Cat's Eye Point was opp01iunistic and the non-local material curated. The results of the debitage analysis indicate that the entire sequence of adze manufacture did not occur in the excavated area of Cat's Eye Point and initial cobble reduction probably occurred on the adjacent beach where the cobbles are found today. Consequently, coastal rock outcrops, even without evidence of associated debitage, must be viewed as potential sources of rock for stone tool manufacture unless determined otherwise. The spatial analysis detected two activity areas and a disposal area at Cat's Eye Point. The analysis of the 6.4mm and 3.2mm debitage found that no significant technological information was gained by examining the smaller flakes.