Flake

18149L

From: New Zealand | North Island | Northland Region | Whangarei

Curatorial Section: Oceanian

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Object Number 18149L
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Maori
Provenience New Zealand | North Island | Northland Region | Whangarei
Period Te Puawaitanga Period
Date Made 1500-1800 CE
Section Oceanian
Materials Obsidian
Description

An obsidian flake, widely used for various purposes by the Māori prior to European contact.

Obsidian was used throughout New Zealand (Aotearoa) as implements could be easily chipped from a core, and the edges would remain sharp. The main sources of obsidian in New Zealand are on the North Island; with Mayor Island, Northland, and the Coromandel and Taupo volcanic zones being the most common sources of obsidian deposits.

Length 2.8 cm
Width 2.3 cm
Thickness 0.4 cm
Credit Line Gift of William Pepper, 1891

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