This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lowe, D. J. Articles by Nairn, I. A. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Radiocarbon age of the Kaharoa Tephra, a key marker for late-Holocene stratigraphy and archaeology in New Zealand

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

B. G. Mcfadgen

Science and Research Division, Department of Conservation, PO Box 10–420, Wellington, New Zealand

T. F. G. Higham

A. G. Hogg

Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

P. C. Froggatt

Research School of Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand

I. A. Nairn

Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Wairakei Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand

The Kaharoa eruption, the most recent rhyolitic volcanic event in New Zealand, resulted in the deposition of the compositionally distinctive Kaharoa Tephra over at least 30 000 km² of northern and eastern North Island. The tephra forms an isochronous marker bed for various late-Holocene stratigraphic and palaeoen vironmental studies but is particularly important for evaluating the chronology of New Zealand's notably short prehistory because it was erupted within the last millennium, close to the time of first Polynesian colonization. We derive a definitive radiocarbon age, previously ambiguous, for the Kaharoa Tephra of 665615 BP using cluster analysis of 22 radiocarbon ages relevant to the Kaharoa eruptive episode. The error-weighted mean age obtained on unscreened ages, minus outliers, is supported by statistically identical ages obtained from three sets of screened ages selected to minimize the effects of inbuilt age or contamination. Based on the intercepts method and 1 sigma range of Northern Hemisphere calibration curves, and after subtraction of 27 years for the interhemispheric offset, the radiocarbon age 665615 BP corresponds to calibrated dates ranging fromc. 650–560 cal. BP (i.e. cal. ad 1300–1390). The approximate midpoint of this range provides a colloquial calen dar date for the Kaharoa Tephra ofc. 600 cal. BP (c. cal. ad 1350).

Key Words: Radiocarbon dating • archaeology • geochronology • tephrochronology • tephra • Kaharoa Tephra • Tarawera volcano • late Holocene • prehistory • Polynesian colonization • New Zealand

The Holocene, Vol. 8, No. 4, 487-495 (1998)
DOI: 10.1191/095968398667037879


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Gomez, L. Carter, and N. A. Trustrum A 2400 yr record of natural events and anthropogenic impacts in intercorrelated terrestrial and marine sediment cores: Waipaoa sedimentary system, New Zealand Geological Society of America Bulletin, November 1, 2007; 119(11-12): 1415 - 1432. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Buck, T. F.G. Higham, and D. J. Lowe Bayesian tools for tephrochronology The Holocene, July 1, 2003; 13(5): 639 - 647. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. M. Newnham, D. J. Lowe, and P. W. Williams Quaternary environmental change in New Zealand: a review Progress in Physical Geography, December 1, 1999; 23(4): 567 - 610. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. M. Newnham, D. J. Lowe, and B. V. Alloway Volcanic hazards in Auckland, New Zealand: a preliminary assessment of the threat posed by central North Island silicic volcanism based on the Quaternary tephrostratigraphical record Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 1999; 161(1): 27 - 45. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. M. Newnham, D. J. Lowe, and B. W. Matthews A late-Holocene and prehistoric record of environmental change from Lake Waikaremoana, New Zealand The Holocene, May 1, 1998; 8(4): 443 - 454. [Abstract] [PDF]