The chronology of Waikato pā: A spatio-temporal investigation of pā in the middle Waikato basin

Abstract

This study considers the chronology of pā construction, proliferation, and development within the Middle Waikato Basin through a spatio-temporal investigation of palisade construction activity as identified at six pā (fortified places). The chronological approach applied in this thesis uses 14C wiggle-match dating to provide an accurate and precise calendar date for the felling of a tree (Felling Date) used to construct a palisade defence at a pā. These Felling Dates are interpreted using the theory of time perspectivism, focusing on three distinct scales of analysis: Event, Local, and Regional. The event scale of analysis successfully produced twenty high-precision felling dates on posts recovered from Lake Mangakaware 1 (MA1), Lake Mangakaware 2 (MA2), Lake Mangahia (MGA), Taraheke Pā (TAR), Te Uapata Pā (TEU) and Lake Rotokauri (ROT). The local scale analysis utilised these felling dates to track the development of the identified palisade defences over time, identifying multiple palisade construction phases, representing construction, repair and redevelopment episodes at MA1, MA2, MGA, TAR and TEU. Finally, the regional scale analysis integrated this evidence into a broader chronological framework, identifying shared episodes of palisade construction activity within the Middle Waikato Basin. This analysis highlights three critical periods of proposed socio-political stress and stability between the late fifteenth and early nineteenth centuries, related to hypothesised influential variables from the broader cultural and archaeological landscape that are proposed to be responsible for the emergence, proliferation and development of pā over time.