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Evidence for Late Polynesian Colonization of New Zealand: University of Waikato Radiocarbon Measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

T. F. G. Higham
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, School of Science and Technology, University of Waikato Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
A. G. Hogg
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, School of Science and Technology, University of Waikato Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
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Abstract

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We present radiocarbon determinations for 271 New Zealand archaeological samples measured at the University of Waikato Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory between 1975 and 1995. A discard protocol is applied to the series and the list culled to winnow the acceptable dates from those that may incorporate error. None of the 221 acceptable 14C determinations older than 600 bp (in the case of terrestrial samples) or 930 bp (in the case of marine and estuarine shell) extends beyond cal ad 1250. This conclusion supports the short chronology model of New Zealand prehistory presented by Anderson (1991).

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Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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