Archaeological models of economic organization in complex societies frequently hinge on indications of craft specialization. Interpretations of such specialization in the Hawaiian islands often involve large-scale production of basalt adzes at Mauna Kea, the largest known quarry in the Pacific region. The recent discovery of expedient, non-specialized production of adzes at Pohakuloa outside the main quarry of Mauna Kea, illustrates another dimension of Hawaiian economic systems. The identification of both small-scale and large-scale adze production has important implications for archaeological studies of craft specialization. The Hawaiian example illustrates that some aspects of production, such as context, scale, and intensity, may vary within a single technological tradition. This study also suggests that previous interpretations of craft production that have emphasized differences across time-or across different categories-must also address variation among individual groups of contemporary materials.
Volume 28 Number 3--4 (Fall and Winter 2001) Table of Contents