Valuable and Useful: Mid-Holocene Stemmed Obsidian Artefacts from West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Distinctive obsidian artefacts from West New Britain appear sometime before 3950 cal BC and terminate abruptly at 1650 cal BC. We propose that they had a wide range of meanings for their users and functioned in both utilitarian and ceremonial contexts, similar to more recent ground stone axes from Highland New Guinea. They therefore represent the earliest evidence for valuables in Papua New Guinea. Here we draw together studies of the technology, spatial distribution, and chemical sourcing of the artefacts, along with considerations of fragility and brightness, to evaluate competing models for their function as utilitarian items and as exchange goods. Whereas many artefacts were probably useful tools integrated within a mobile settlement pattern, others were clearly reserved for special functions, and many may have operated in both the utilitarian and ceremonial spheres.

Flexibility of stone tool manufacturing methods on the Georgina River, Camooweal, Queensland

“…Most of these flakes probably derived from the reduction of the ventral surface of flake blank cores, although one is interpreted as resulting from retouching a small blade. Contact removal flakes are technologically similar to certain "Kombewa" flakes (e.g., Owen 1938;Araho et al 2002;Dag and Goren-Inbar 2001) but at Camooweal they appear to be a byproduct of reduction rather than a deliberately-produced flake.…”

Finding the right question: Learning from stone tools on the Willaumez Peninsula, Papua New Guinea

“…The only regular incidence of retouch in the Willaumez Peninsula occurs within a general class of objects with pronounced tangs, known locally as 'stemmed tools' (e.g. Araho et al 2002). These begin sometime before 5920 cal.…”

Volcanism and Historical Ecology on the Willaumez Peninsula, Papua New Guinea

“…Manning and Sewell 2002with Allison 2002, Driessen 2002). In the case of the Willaumez Peninsula, the manufacture and use of obsidian flaked tools that have distinctive stems or tangs, known as ''stemmed tools'' (Araho et al 2002), survived the W-K1 eruption despite the long period of abandonment. In contrast, the cultural practices associated with them disappeared after the W-K2 eruption.…”