Pollen, Phytoliths and Diatoms in Prehistoric Coprolites from Kohika, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Authors: Horrocks M.¹; Irwin G.J.¹; McGlone M.S.²; Nichol S.L.³; Williams L.J.⁴

Source: Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 30, Number 1, January 2003 , pp. 13-20(8)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $52.63 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Microfossil (pollen, phytolith and diatom) analyses of 16 coprolites from a prehistoric settlement at Kohika, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, provide evidence for coprolite age, season of site occupation, prehistoric Maori diet and palaeoenvironmental conditions. Because human and dog diets may overlap considerably, the microfossil evidence does not indicate with certainty which of these two species deposited them. However, we argue that it was very probably dog. The microfossil evidence suggests that the coprolites are pre-European (pre- c. ad 1800) and post-large scale Polynesian deforestation (post- c. 700 yr bp ), and that some were deposited in mid-summer. High values for puwhaSonchus type and raupo Typha pollen in some of the coprolites may provide direct evidence that these taxa were used as food by prehistoric Maori, as described later in ethnographic times. Copyright 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jasc.2001.0714

Affiliations: 1: Centre for Archaeological Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand 2: Landcare Research, Lincoln, 8152, New Zealand 3: Department of Geography, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand 4: Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton, New Zealand

Publication date: 2003-01-01