title: The importance of shell: Redating of the To’aga site (Ofu Island, Manu'a) and a revised chronology for the Lapita to Polynesian Plainware transition in Tonga and Sāmoa

authors: Petchey, Fiona

abstract: Radiocarbon dating Pacific archaeological sites is fraught with difficulties. Often situated in coastal beach ridges or sand dunes, these sites exhibit horizontal and vertical disturbances, datable materials such as wood charcoal are typically highly degraded, may be derived from old trees or driftwood unless specifically identified to short-lived material, while bone collagen rarely survives in tropical conditions. Shell, therefore, is the most logical material for dating Pacific sites since it is resistant to alteration, can be sampled to ensure only the last few seasons of growth are represented and is often closely tied to human economic activities. However, shell radiocarbon ( ¹⁴C) dating has been plagued by interpretive problems largely due to our limited knowledge of the ¹⁴C cycle in nearshore marine and estuarine environments. Consequently, shell dates are typically ignored in regional chronometric evaluations and in recent years shell is often avoided for dating altogether. Recent advances in our understanding of the source of shell ¹⁴C as well as the development of the first South Pacific Gyre model of changing marine ¹⁴C over time, combined with Bayesian statistical modelling, now provide us with insight into the value of these shell radiocarbon dates. Here we present a revision of the age of the To’aga site on Ofu Island–an early occupation site associated with the initial Polynesian Plainware period in Sāmoa, the earliest use of which we date to between 2785 and 2607 cal BP (68% probability).

text: The importance of shell: Redating of the To’aga site (Ofu Island, Manu'a) and a revised chronology for the Lapita to Polynesian Plainware transition in Tonga and Sāmoa Radiocarbon dating Pacific archaeological sites is fraught with difficulties. Often situated in coastal beach ridges or sand dunes, these sites exhibit horizontal and vertical disturbances, datable materials such as wood charcoal are typically highly degraded, may be derived from old trees or driftwood unless specifically identified to short-lived material, while bone collagen rarely survives in tropical conditions. Shell, therefore, is the most logical material for dating Pacific sites since it is resistant to alteration, can be sampled to ensure only the last few seasons of growth are represented and is often closely tied to human economic activities. However, shell radiocarbon ( ¹⁴C) dating has been plagued by interpretive problems largely due to our limited knowledge of the ¹⁴C cycle in nearshore marine and estuarine environments. Consequently, shell dates are typically ignored in regional chronometric evaluations and in recent years shell is often avoided for dating altogether. Recent advances in our understanding of the source of shell ¹⁴C as well as the development of the first South Pacific Gyre model of changing marine ¹⁴C over time, combined with Bayesian statistical modelling, now provide us with insight into the value of these shell radiocarbon dates. Here we present a revision of the age of the To’aga site on Ofu Island–an early occupation site associated with the initial Polynesian Plainware period in Sāmoa, the earliest use of which we date to between 2785 and 2607 cal BP (68% probability).

year: 2019

title: Structure theory for second order 2D superintegrable systems with 1-parameter potentials

authors: Kalnins, Ernie G.

subjects: maths

abstract: The structure theory for the quadratic algebra generated by first and second order constants of the motion for 2D second order superintegrable systems with nondegenerate (3-parameter) and or 2-parameter potentials is well understood, but the results for the strictly 1-parameter case have been incomplete. Here we work out this structure theory and prove that the quadratic algebra generated by first and second order constants of the motion for systems with 4 second order constants of the motion must close at order three with the functional relationship between the 4 generators of order four. We also show that every 1-parameter superintegrable system is Stäckel equivalent to a system on a constant curvature space.

text: Structure theory for second order 2D superintegrable systems with 1-parameter potentials The structure theory for the quadratic algebra generated by first and second order constants of the motion for 2D second order superintegrable systems with nondegenerate (3-parameter) and or 2-parameter potentials is well understood, but the results for the strictly 1-parameter case have been incomplete. Here we work out this structure theory and prove that the quadratic algebra generated by first and second order constants of the motion for systems with 4 second order constants of the motion must close at order three with the functional relationship between the 4 generators of order four. We also show that every 1-parameter superintegrable system is Stäckel equivalent to a system on a constant curvature space.

year: 2009

title: What are Bicultural Psychological Services?

authors: Thomas, David R.

subjects: Maori students

abstract: The present paper is intended to stimulate discussion on the development of bicultural psychological services in Aotearoa/New Zealand, focusing primarily on services provided by psychologists trained in tertiary educational institutions. Patterns of biculturalism emerging among human services in New Zealand are briefly described, then topics relevant to the provision of bicultural psychological services, that are appropriate for both Maori and Pakeha, in Aotearoa are discussed.

text: What are Bicultural Psychological Services? The present paper is intended to stimulate discussion on the development of bicultural psychological services in Aotearoa/New Zealand, focusing primarily on services provided by psychologists trained in tertiary educational institutions. Patterns of biculturalism emerging among human services in New Zealand are briefly described, then topics relevant to the provision of bicultural psychological services, that are appropriate for both Maori and Pakeha, in Aotearoa are discussed.

year: 1993