Analysis of pottery samples from Bourewa, the earliest known Lapita site in Fiji

J S Rutherford; M J Almond; Patrick Nunn

doi:10.1016/j.saa.2011.09.050

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Analysis of pottery samples from Bourewa, the earliest known Lapita site in Fiji

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Analysis of pottery samples from Bourewa, the earliest known Lapita site in Fiji

J S Rutherford, M J Almond and Patrick Nunn

Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, Vol.85(1), pp.155-159

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2011.09.050

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Abstract

infrared spectroscopy

mineralogy

pottery analysis

Fijian pottery

lapita pottery

x-ray diffraction

We have carried out a thorough mineralogical analysis of 16 pottery samples from the Lapita site of Bourwera in Fiji, using micromorphological techniques with optical and polarising microscopes. While the overall mineralogy of all of the samples is similar the samples clearly divide into two groups, namely those with or without the mineral calcite. Our findings are backed up by chemical analysis using SEM-EDX and FTIR. SEM-EDX shows the clear presence of inclusions of calcite in some of the samples; FTIR shows bands arising from calcite in these samples. The study suggests that it is likely that more than one clay source was used for production of this pottery, but that most of the pottery comes from a single source. This finding is in line with previous studies which suggest some trading of pottery between the Fijian islands but a single source of clay for most of the pottery found at Bouwera. We found no evidence for the destruction of CaCO 3 by heating upon production of the pottery in line with the known technology of the Lapita people who produced earthenware pottery but not high temperature ceramics. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Details

Title: Analysis of pottery samples from Bourewa, the earliest known Lapita site in Fiji
Authors: J S Rutherford (Author) - University of Reading, United Kingdom
M J Almond (Author) - University of Reading, United Kingdom
Patrick Nunn (Author) - University of New England
Publication details: Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, Vol.85(1), pp.155-159
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2011.09.050
ISSN: 1386-1425
Organisation Unit: Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448629502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Spectroscopy