Ceramic deposit below fifth to sixth century AD volcanic ash fall at Pava`ia`i, Tutuila Island, American Samoa: preliminary results from site AS-31-171.
Addison DJ, Tago T, Toloa J, Pearthree E. 2006. Ceramic deposit below fifth to sixth century AD volcanic ash fall at Pava`ia`i, Tutuila Island, American Samoa: preliminary results from site AS-31-171.. New Zealand Journal of archaeology. 27:5-18
A Polynesian Plainware-bearing cultural deposit underlying a volcanic ash deposit is described for Pava'ia'i, Tutuila Island. The cultural deposit dates to c. cal AD 240-640. Volcanic activity on Tutuila is inferred to have continued until at least this period. Metric attributes and rim form of a 33-sherd assemblage from the site (Site AS-31-171) are summarised. The uniqueness in Samoa of the deposit as an undisturbed primary ceramic-bearing deposit with well defined chronology is proposed. Effects of the late Holocene volcanism on prehistoric human populations of Tutuila are suggested.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Addison, David; Tago, Tuipuavai; Toloa, Jeffery; Pearthree, Erik
- Units
- NPSA , PACN
- Keywords
- American Samoa, Archaeology, ceramics, Holocene volcanism, human population, Polynesian plainware, Settlement