Re: First arrivals in NZ

From: bodger (junkmail_at_fishnchips.com)
Date: 09/18/04 

Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 08:55:57 +1200

Seppo Renfors wrote:
> The argument is that Rattus exulans could not have arrived on any
> islands without the assistance of man because it is an extremely poor
> swimmer. Therefor R.exulans is associated with the movement of people.
>
> R.exulans originated from Asia and spread from there over many
> centuries through much of Pacific and Polynesia. Conventional accepted
> theory is that people first arrived some 700 to 1000 years BP
> (Anderson, Allingham, Highman 1996). Other theories also exist.
>
> In -95 and -96 a suite of 19 samples of subfossil R.exulans from 6
> natural sites in the North and South Islands of NZ were c14 dated
> using AMS. The samples were found to be significantly older than the
> accepted theory of prehistory of NZ would suggest. The ages of the
> bones were ranging from 1204 BP to 2155 BP (Holdaway 1996). NR Bevan
> and RJ Sparks understood a further study on the dietary effect on the
> R.exulans age. This is via a C13 and N15 analysis. This allows an
> examination of the variation from atmospheric equilibrium of c14. This
> deviation indicates a dietary influence. The C13 and N15 analysis
> provides the % or marine diet component needing to be allowed for in
> arriving at a corrected date. Still it leaves the c14 age as is and
> has not altered this finding. The finding suggests that the variation
> in the diet of the omnivorous R.exulans cannot cause the large
> variance in the c14 age found from the accepted theory. In any event a
> marine reservoir makes a corrected date even older, up to some 400
> years older than atmosphere reservoir correction.
>
> Apparently there has been some teeth gnashing among some people about
> these new dates indicating a much earlier presence of people in NZ
> than is conventionally accepted. The conventional view is based on
> sharp changes in pollen finds indicating large scale burning by early
> agriculture. But what if the earliest people didn't practise
> agriculture? Still a few people have questioned the possibility of the
> R.exulans ages being correct.
>
> So this needed further testing to verify the ages. All dated fossil
> remains were collected from known stratigraphic positions. Additional
> chronological controls is provided by two known volcanic tephras at
> the Hukanui sites on North Island. Another site for testing was on
> South Island. The bone preservation had been uniformly good at both
> sites. The amino acid profiles are consistent with those of collagen
> from modern Pacific Rat and the laboratory collagen standard, meaning
> they are good samples.
>
> At the Hukanui site, c14 ages for both bird bones and eggshells agree
> with the optical ages of the enclosing sediment. Both chronologies are
> consistent with the overlying Taupo Ignimbrite (c. 1850 yr BP) and the
> underlying Waimihia Tephra (c. 3300 yr BP). Two c14 ages for duck
> bones excavated from within the Taupo Ignimbrite agrees with the
> accepted age of of the ignimbrite. So there are some very good
> controls there.
>
> A R.exulans bone in good condition (similar amino acid profile to
> modern collagen), excavated from beneath the Taupo Ignimbrite. The
> good preservation, with the added controls provides very good
> confidence in the c14 age for the sample, giving 1775 +/- 93 yr BP.
> This accords with the position beneath the ignimbrite. At the South
> Island site, 3 rat bone samples and 2 bird bone samples were also
> consistent with the optical and stratigraphic evidence. (Holdaway,
> Roberts, Bevan-Athfield, Olley, Worthy - 2002)
>
> The c14 ages have been confirmed with TL and OSL, stratigraphic
> methods and by various other markers. This puts R.exulans presence in
> both North and South Island at least 800 years before the
> conventionally accepted first arrivals. One thing is certain, they
> didn't swim to get there.
>

Wouldn't it be a lot easier if they just tested human remains?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: First arrivals in NZ
    ... > variance in the c14 age found from the accepted theory. ... > the Hukanui sites on North Island. ... The bone preservation had been uniformly good at both ... excavated from beneath the Taupo Ignimbrite. ...
    (sci.anthropology)
  • First arrivals in NZ
    ... the Hukanui sites on North Island. ... c14 ages for both bird bones and eggshells agree ... consistent with the overlying Taupo Ignimbrite and the ... A R.exulans bone in good condition (similar amino acid profile to ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • First arrivals in NZ
    ... the Hukanui sites on North Island. ... c14 ages for both bird bones and eggshells agree ... consistent with the overlying Taupo Ignimbrite and the ... A R.exulans bone in good condition (similar amino acid profile to ...
    (sci.anthropology)
  • Re: First arrivals in NZ
    ... > variance in the c14 age found from the accepted theory. ... > the Hukanui sites on North Island. ... The bone preservation had been uniformly good at both ... excavated from beneath the Taupo Ignimbrite. ...
    (sci.anthropology)
  • Re: First arrivals in NZ
    ... > variance in the c14 age found from the accepted theory. ... > the Hukanui sites on North Island. ... The bone preservation had been uniformly good at both ... excavated from beneath the Taupo Ignimbrite. ...
    (sci.archaeology)