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Comparative Diagram 13.37a These two adzes are shown at full size and if compared with the adze shown in Diagram 13.37 the Samoan adze shows a close relationship in size, bevel angle, and the perhaps coincidental lean to the left side. These adzes would be classified in accordance with Bucks Samoan Typology (1930) as Type VII. The 1969 Green and Davidson revision of Bucks classification has attempted to re-define the thick Type I forms designating them as Type IX or X depending on surface finish. However the specimen shown in Fig. 12 b demonstrates the weakness of such revisions, as it appears that they have haphazardly mixed Types I, VI, VII, IX and X all in the same pot. Perhaps this is flogging a dead horse and I should be thankful that Buck's system has now been so abused that it must ultimately be replaced by a more all encompassing typology. (Otherwise I should feel obligated to somehow incorporate the Buck typology) It is important to observe that yet another 'Samoan" adze form has been found in Tubuai, the small size of these examples may be of some diagnostic importance. There is also a strong relationship between these smaller Type 4 adzes and the larger Koma type adzes. One might easily imagine the larger adzes deriving from the smaller, however it may be that from a very early period a broad size range existed in this type. The actual manufacturing techniques are however the same whether large or small and the distinctive scars on the back, sides and bevel surfaces are easily recognized. The backs of these adzes from the earliest triangular (and the flat backed plano-convex Vb) to the later evolved 4A (a span of probably more than 2000 years) show a remarkable degree of uniformity (re scar pattern and finish). I have noticed a number of very similar adzes which range from medium to large in the M.I.T collections from the Leeward Islands of the Society group, particularly Bora Bora and Raiatea. These are not Koma types being rather shallow and well ground on all surfaces, and it is tempting to relate them to a later development which was very short lived as they would appear quite rare. A perfect example is pictured in the Lavondes 1976 M.I.T. Catalogue, adze #677, Page 134, Plate 5, from Bora Bora, Ilot de Tevairoa, it is 23 cm long, 5.6 wide, 4.7 thick with a cutting edge 3.6 wide, fully ground on all surfaces. Probably this adze would be very similar to Buck's Samoan Type VI, certainly nothing of this size has been found thus far in Tubuai. Thicker adzes of this type probably evolved out of a functional need i.e. more weight as suggested by Duff. |
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