The archaeological documentation and geochemistry of the Rua Tokitoki adze quarry and the Poike fine‐grain basalt source on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Rapa Nui is famous for itsmoai(statues) andahu(platforms), yet research into the island's many basalt quarries, sources and workshops is limited. These geological and archaeological sites provided the raw materials for tools such astoki(adzes and picks), which facilitated the manufacture of Easter Island's iconic stonework. Other basaltic tools such ashoe(knives),ohio(axes) andmangai mā‘ea(stone fishhooks) served for subsistence practices. However, little is known about the sources of these artefacts, the sequence of their manufacture and their geochemical compositions. In this paper, we provide archaeological site descriptions and geochemistry of source material from the Rua Tokitoki quarry and a fine‐grain basalt locality on Poike to contribute towards an understanding of prehistoric mining, social interaction and elite oversight on this isolated East Polynesian outpost.

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