Pa radiocarbon ages database

Pa Radiocarbon Ages Database

M D Schmidt

In the tables below are listed all available radiocarbon ages from New Zealand pa sites. Some radiocarbon dates are not available due to commercial reasons, but will be added to the tables when they become available. Appended to the bottom of the date tables is the Discard Protocol applied by Schmidt (1996b) to the pa radiocarbon chronology when he determined the possible beginning of pa construction in New Zealand prehistory. This discard protocol therefore provides an interpretation of how reliable each radiocarbon age from each pa site listed in the date tables is.

Charcoal And Wood Radiocarbon Dates From New Zealand Pa

North Island

Lab No.

Site Name

Provenance

Conventional Radiocarbon Age (BP)

Calibrated Age (AD) 2 Sigma#

Discard Protocol (refer below)

NZ-7320

Cattleyards (P5/408)

Area II

290 ± 55

1494 (1655) 1954

NZ-7330

Cattleyards (P5/408)

Area III

407 ± 60

1431 (1493, 1602, 1615) 1657

NZ (R4543/3)

Harataonga Bay

Pit Fill

443 ± 58

1415 (1453, 1460, 1476) 1646

NZ-6967

Haratua's

From soil on floor of pit

363 ± 37

1453 (1530, 1552, 1634) 1656

ANU-4737

Haratua's

North East basal drain, Pit O

540 ± 170

1214 (1429) 1954

ANU-4753

Haratua's

North East basal drain, Pit O

960 ± 170

775 (1071, 1080, 1128, 1136, 1154) 1404

ANU-4758

Haratua's

North East basal drain, Pit O

440 ± 230

1210 (1454, 1457, 1478) 1955*

ANU-25

Kauri Point

1st Terrace

495 ± 78

1301 (1431) 1627

ANU-46B

Kauri Point

Second Shell Midden

395 ± 53

1426 (1483) 1645

NZ-6278

Maioro

Layer 2 Square E6

873 ± 53

1042 (1217) 1286

NZ-6275

Maioro

Posthole Square F7

821 ± 46

1163 (1263, 1274, 1275) 1295

NZ-6277

Maioro

Posthole

Square F5

420 ± 51

1432 (1489) 1648

NZ-6274

Maioro

Posthole Baulk F8-9

345 ± 51

1450 (1640) 1953

NZ-6276

Maioro

Posthole Square F5

293 ± 55

1493 (1654) 1954

NZ-1120

Mangakaware 2

Hearth below sand lens, Trench A

2760 ± 78

cal BC 1048 (830) 770

NZ-1121

Mangakaware 2

Central Shelter, Pahe 1

428 ± 84

1408 (1486) 1667

NZ-1125

Mangakaware 2

House 1, Trench E

286 ± 83

1449 (1657) 1955*

NZ-1677

Mangakaware 2

Trench T Shelter

1191 ± 60

693 (895, 925, 940) 1019

NZ-1679

Mangakaware 2

Below House 2, Pahe 1

382 ± 57

1438 (1523, 1580, 1626) 1665

NZ-4471

Mt. Roskill

Pit C, Layer 3

305 ± 56

1488 (1651) 1954

NZ-4472

Mt. Roskill

Fireplace near Pit C, Layer 2

288 ± 45

1524 (1656) 1954

NZ-4473

Mt. Roskill

Pit G, hearth, layer 2

420 ± 61

1426 (1489) 1653

NZ-4553

Mt. Roskill

Pit I, Layer 3

353 ± 46

1451 (1535, 1536, 1637) 1667

NZ-?

Maungerei

Midden deposit

509 ± 40

1408 (1438) 1489

NZ-907

Ngaroto

Check Prov

858 ± 61

1025 (1211) 1284

NZ-6838

Opouriao and Waimana

Rewarau Road soil

540 ± 64

1320 (1429) 1608

NZ-4176

Oruarangi

Square 2, Lower shelly midden layer

450 ± 83

1334 (1451) 1658

NZ-4179

Oruarangi

Square 3, top of E1

277 ± 40

1533 (1661) 1954

NZ-1279

Otakanini

Period I hearth

606 ± 89

1281 (1407) 1488

NZ-1280

Otakanini

Posthole T

398 ± 58

1418 (1455, 1480) 1647

NZ-1281

Otakanini

Palisade Post

461 ± 58

1411 (1447) 1640

NZ-1676

Otakanini

Trench G108, Level 7

310 ± 57

1485 (1650) 1954

NZ-314

Pari Whakatau

Wall Post, House Pit C

343 ± 40

1484 (1641) 1666

NZ-4181

Paterangi

Square 1, Shell lens

271 ± 92

1448 (1663) 1955*

NZ-6999

Pouerua

Area V Layer OL2

270 ± 50

1527 (1664) 1954

NZ-7001

Pouerua

Area VII, Layer OL3

250 ± 50

1638 (1669, 1783, 1797, 1948, 1952) 1954

NZ-7002

Pouerua

Area V Layer NII

504 ± 52

1405 (1438) 1618

NZ-7003

Pouerua

Area IV, Layer NII

400 ± 40

1441 (1498, 1512, 1516, 1599, 1618) 1648

NZ-7006

Pouerua

Area VII, Layer NII

385 ± 53

1439 (1522, 1584, 1625) 1660

NZ-7015

Pouerua

Area VI, Layer OL2

345 ± 40

1482 (1640) 1666

NZ-7027

Pouerua

F#7 firescoop, terrace

320 ± 50

1486 (1648) 1954

NZ-6550

Pouto N33/243

Top of Pit Fill below defensive bank

456 ± 33

1431 (1449) 1623

NZ-2646

Pukearuhe

Square B1, Layer 3a

253 ± 57

1528 (1668, 1784, 1796, 1949, 1952) 1954

NZ-2647

Pukearuhe

Square B1, under terrace

273 ± 57

1520 (1663) 1954

NZ-1762

Rahopara

Hangi, Square K-18, below Layer 5

378 ± 58

1439 (1524, 1564, 1575, 1628) 1666

NZ-1080

Sarah's Gully

Phase I Pit

711 ± 48

1263 (1296) 1407

NZ-1081

Sarah's Gully

Phase 2 Pit

341 ± 58

1447 (1641) 1954

NZ-1082

Sarah's Gully

Phase 3 Bank

398 ± 58

1435 (1501, 1509, 1517, 1598, 1619) 1659

NZ-7311

Stone-Walled

Area VII, Terrace 5

250 ± 50

1638 (1669, 1783, 1797, 1948, 1952) 1954

NZ-7339

Stone-Walled

Area VII, Terrace 5

735 ± 60

1221 (1291) 1407

NZ-3541

Taumatawhana

Adzed stump

939 ± 31

1030 (1158, 1185) 1219

NZ-7770

Taurere (Taylor's Hill)

Fill at Base of Pit T

396 ± 46

1440 (1504, 1506, 1517, 1597, 1620) 1652

NZ-1911

Tiromoana

Site IV, post K

335 ± 57

1450 (1643) 1954

NZ-1913

Tiromoana

Site II, Pit A, door sill

3524 ± 70

BC 2009 (1768, 1760, 1744) 1558

NZ-1914

Tiromoana

Site II, Pit B, post

1009 ± 122

781 (1031, 1144, 1146) 1286

NZ-1915

Tiromoana

Site II, cooking place, hearth

413 ± 57

1431 (1491, 1605) 1653

NZ-1916

Tiromoana

Site I, under house floor

488 ± 57

1406 (1441) 1629

NZ-1917

Tiromoana

Site II, Pit A, post

721 ± 86

1210 (1294) 1428

NZ-1918

Tiromoana

Site IV, post L

544 ± 58

1325 (1428) 1488

NZ-2711

Tiromoana

Site XI, posthole lowest layer

407 ± 94

1408 (1493, 1602, 1615) 1954

NZ-2712

Tiromoana

Site IX, post 4

250 ± 60

1527 (1669, 1783, 1797, 1948, 1952) 1955*

NZ-2713

Tiromoana

Site IX, posthole 3

1552 ± 89

362 (545, 558, 574, 575) 688

NZ-2714

Tiromoana

Site XI, cooking place, hearth

349 ± 104

1418 (1639) 1954

NZ-7390

Tolaga Bay (N90/398)

Under outer bank of pa

526 ± 65

1326 (1434) 1620

NZ-7392

Tolaga Bay (N90/317)

Oven on ridge leading to pa

347 ± 66

1442 (1639) 1954

Wk-1147

Tolaga Bay (N90/398)

Thin soil on top of NZ-7390

360 ± 125

1406 (1532, 1547, 1635) 1955*

Wk-1148

Tolaga Bay (N90/505)

Oven base adjacent to pa

370 ± 70

1436 (1528, 1558, 1631) 1954

ANU-760

Waioneke

Posthole from Period 1 pit

300 ± 90

1442 (1653) 1955*

NZ-7420

Waipaoa (X17/4)

Subsoil at top of a north-facing slope

400 ± 60

1433 (1498, 1512, 1516, 1599, 1618) 1660

NZ-0149

Warehou

Palisade posthole

364 ± 42

1449 (1530, 1553, 1633) 1660

NZ-1889

Wiri

Associated with terrace.

284 ± 83

1450 (1658) 1955*

NZ-1890

Wiri

Associated with terrace

396 ± 89

1413 (1504, 1506, 1517, 1597, 1620) 1954

South Island

NZ-696

Katiki Point

House Site 2 Contemporary with Pa

886 ± 49

1024 (1161, 1171, 1190) 1276

Marine Shell Radiocarbon Dates From New Zealand Pa

*North Island*
Lab No.	Site Name	Provenance	Conventional Radiocarbon Age (BP)	Calibrated Age (AD) 2 Sigma#	Discard Protocol (refer below)
NZ-5184	Athenree (U13/46)	Defensive bank	827 ± 56	1406 (1469) 1563	L
NZ-5185	Athenree (U13/48)	Defensive bank	665 ± 55	1499 (1644) 1704	L
NZ-5186	Athenree (U13/49)	Under defensive bank	668 ± 55	1496 (1642) 1702	L
NZ-6941	Cummings Pa (Y17/418)	Beneath bank of pa	586 ± 50	1621 (1685) 1828	L
NZ-7380	Donald's Pa (N89&90/29)	Platform of pa	782 ± 65	1422 (1498) 1655	M
NZ-7371	Donald's Pa (N89&90/29)	Forming ditch	773 ± 65	1427 (1505) 1659	M
NZ-6570	Donald's Pa (N89&90/29)	Terrace fill	979 ± 52	1293 (1381) 1446	K
NZ-4891	Kauwahaia	Shell layer	670 ± 45	1510 (1641) 1691	J
NZ-5183	Koutunui	Under defensive bank	635 ± 55	1522 (1662) 1741	L
NZ-6959	Lake Repongaere (Y18/318)	Foot of defensive bank	781 ± 53	1434 (1498) 1640	M
NZ-6279	Maioro	Square F10-11, Pit 10	829 ± 33	1428 (1468) 1517	J
NZ-6752	Mangatawa (U14/208)	Beneath platform on pa	585 ± 28	1654 (1686) 1740	L
NZ-6766	Managatawa (U14/207)	Under tread of major lateral terrace	779 ± 32	1454 (1500) 1569	L
NZ-6961	Maraetaha Pa No. 4 (Y18/208)	Beach sand stratified behind ditch and bank	624 ± 64	1518 (1667) 1820	L
NZ-7372	Maraetaha River (Y18/59)	Shell in fill of pit	634 ± 64	1510 (1662) 1812	M
NZ-7385	Maraetaha River (Y18/61)	In oven debris sealed by Matawhero silts	647 ± 57	1511 (1655) 1723	M
NZ-6241	Matakana Is. (U14/181)	Below defensive bank	581 ± 54	1617 (1688) 1844	L
NZ-6214	Matakana Is. (U14/332)	Under defensive bank	869 ± 55	1373 (1446) 1518	L
NZ-6202	Oikemoke (U14/800)	Under defensive bank	716 ± 55	1466 (1552) 1678	L
NZ-5427	Opotiki (N78/332)	Fill of posthole in between terraces 1 and 2	558 ± 32	1665 (1700) 1824	M
NZ-6792	Opouriao (N78/281)	Beneath terrace fill	641 ± 50	1525 (1658) 1714	L
NZ-6794	Opouriao (N78/4)	Pa platform	631 ± 50	1533 (1664) 1726	J
NZ-6826	Opouriao (N78/20)	Shell in top soil	567 ± 41	1651 (1695) 1830	M
NZ-7045	Papamoa (U14/243)	Overlying filled-in defensive ditch	602 ± 48	1583 (1678) 1813	M
NZ-6784	Papamoa (U14/238)	Terrace on pa	763 ± 31	1464 (1512) 1617	L
NZ-7046	Papamoa (U14/243)	Shell midden in rua	616 ± 48	1550 (1671) 1797	M
NZ-6217	Pouto (N33/567)	Eroding top of undifferentiated fill	584 ± 54	1613 (1686) 1840	L
NZ-6242	Pouto (N33/206)	Within bank fill	576 ± 44	1641 (1690) 1827	M
NZ-6256	Pouto (N33/245)	From below the bank	643 ± 55	1516 (1657) 1723	L
NZ-6215	Puketoki	Terrace riser near top of pa	639 ± 54	1521 (1659) 1726	L
NZ-6916	Rangihoua	Fill of major terrace	661 ± 30	1539 (1647) 1682	M
NZ-4602	Ruahihi	Fill of palisade posthole ix	711 ± 40	1485 (1562) 1667	L
NZ-4603	Ruahihi	Midden 1, cooking area I	714 ± 32	1493 (1556) 1657	J
NZ-4604	Ruahihi	Below bank of promontory pa	796 ± 33	1445 (1488) 1544	L
NZ-4700	Ruahihi	As for NZ-4603	639 ± 27	1588 (1659) 1690	J
NZ-1895	Ruarangi	Area B, occupation III, layer 5	694 ± 64	1468 (1616) 1698	M
NZ-6791	Ruatoki (N78/282)	Adjacent to palisade line	777 ± 33	1454 (1502) 1581	L
NZ-4892	Tangihau	Shell lense in northern cliffs.	611 ± 55	1542 (1674) 1816	L
NZ-6925	Tapui	Beneath bank fill	626 ± 32	1611 (1666) 1702	L
NZ-6933	Tapui	Outside ditch and bank of NZ-6925 sample.	685 ± 27	1524 (1630) 1668	J
NZ-6243	Tauhara (N33/227)	Near bottom of terrace fill	739 ± 55	1453 (1530) 1667	L
NZ-7753	Taurere	Lowest layer Pit V, Square V 105	670 ± 50	1503 (1641) 1696	M
Wk-1765	Tauwhare	Under exterior bank fill	670 ± 45	1510 (1641) 1691	L
NZ-7386	Te Kararoa	Overlying terrace-construction fill.	778 ± 65	1424 (1501) 1657	M
NZ-6662	Te Kura A Maia	Within defensive bank	684 ± 32	1518 (1631) 1673	M
NZ-6688	Te Kura A Maia	Below highest platform on pa	747 ± 28	1476 (1524) 1631	M
NZ-6237	Te Puna (U14/155)	Outer edge of terrace	683 ± 28	1524 (1631) 1670	M
NZ-6207	Te Puna (U14/155)	Below terrace	590 ± 32	1647 (1683) 1792	L
NZ-6216	Te Puna (U14/153)	Below raised defensive platform	807 ± 56	1417 (1481) 1621	L
NZ-4896	Tirikohua Pa	Shell Layer, West Side	654 ± 32	1543 (1652) 1687	J
NZ-6578	Tolaga Bay (N89&90/500)	Terrace fill	799 ± 28	1447 (1486) 1534	M
NZ-6206	Wairoa River (U14/107)	Third terrace from top of pa	708 ± 52	1474 (1568) 1679	M
NZ-6796	Waimana (N78/148)	Beneath terrace fill	723 ± 51	1466 (1545) 1671	L
NZ-6805	Waimana (N78/241)	Shell in top soil	637 ± 50	1528 (1661) 1719	L
NZ-6814	Waimana (N78/313)	Shell in top soil from oven	699 ± 63	1467 (1603) 1694	J
NZ-6692	Wharo	Shell layer below tread of terrace	599 ± 32	1641 (1679) 1724	L


South Island

NZ-4152	Peketa (N49/23)	Shell from pit house floor	599 ± 40	1630 (1679) 1799	K

Notes: # The calibrated ages shown were derived using the calibration program CALIB 3.0.3 developed by Stuiver and Reimer (1993). Charcoal and wood 14C dates were calibrated using the Stuiver and Becker (1993) decadal terrestrial calibration curves with a Southern Hemisphere offset of 40 years after Vogel et al (1993:74), and marine shell 14C dates were calibrated using the modelled marine calibration curves of Stuiver and Braziunas (1993) with a ÆR value set at -25 ± 15 years as recommended by Higham and Hogg (1995) A 95% confidence interval was used in the calibrations. *indicates bomb 14C affect (Stuiver and Reimer 1993); All radiocarbon dates and related information are sourced to Schmidt 1993, 1995, 1996b; Schmidt 1996, 1998 Radiocarbon Dated Pa in New Zealand Database; Schmidt 1993,1995, in prep; Schmidt 1996, 1998 Excavated Pa in New Zealand Archaeology Database.

Discard Protocol For Radiocarbon Dates From New Zealand Pa

Radiocarbon dates from New Zealand pa can be discarded using the following protocol (match letter with ‘Discard Protocol’ column in date tables):

A. Unidentified charcoal and wood ages are rejected due to risk of high inbuilt age. This mainly applies to charcoal and wood dated before 1976 at the IGNS. Prior to this these materials were not regularly identified to species (Anderson and McGovern-Wilson 1990: 44).

B. Charcoal or wood dated after 1976 that are known not to have been identified to tree species are rejected.

C. Charcoal and wood dates identified to tree species which possibly have high inbuilt age are discarded (see Anderson 1991:780). The main tree species of concern for pa dates is Totara (Podocarpus totara ) as many dates are from palisades and pit structures made from this species.

D. Rejected are samples of what is considered by the laboratory or researcher to be fossil wood.

E. Samples where possible contamination has been noted by the laboratory or researcher are not accepted.

F. Marine Shell: samples noted to have been contaminated, recrystallised, or believed to have been affected by oceanic upwelling or hardwater by the laboratory or researcher (see Caughley 1988; Anderson 1991:777), or where the species has been shown to possibly be unreliable for radiocarbon dating (ie Amphibola crenata (mudsnail) (see Higham 1993; Schmidt 1996) and Macomona liliana (see Hogg, Higham and Dahm 1998)) are rejected.

G. All radiocarbon dates with a one sigma standard deviation of greater than 100 are discarded as such a large standard deviation can have a detrimental effect on refining the time of the appearance of defensive features and therefore the dating of pa in general.

H. Dates from manufactured soils where the constituents have not been identified are seen as unreliable due to the risk of inbuilt age.

I. Gakashuin Dates are rejected where the ages are "strikingly anomalous in comparison with other radiocarbon results and archaeological evidence" (see Anderson 1991:768).

J. Dates from internal or external features of pa (such as pits and house sites) where the sample dated is not in stratigraphic association of the use or construction of the fortifications are discarded.

K. Samples whose provenance is questionable or unclear are rejected.

Radiocarbon dates from New Zealand pa are accepted for analysis where:

L. the provenance of the sample is believed to represent the ‘maximum’ time of fortification construction or use; the charcoal has been identified to short-lived species; the shell and charcoal samples are uncontaminated; and the shell and charcoal ages cannot be rejected by any of the above discard criteria.

M. the provenance of the sample is believed to represent an actual or `robust' time of fortification construction or use; the charcoal has been identified to short-lived species; the shell and charcoal samples are uncontaminated; and the charcoal or shell ages cannot be rejected by any of the above discard criteria.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank Dr. Thomas Higham for his assistance in adding this database to the New Zealand Archaeological Association electronic publications web site.

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