| Abstract: |
The discovery of obsidian from Mayor Island (New Zealand) at several outlying island groups indicate that, as in the case of Talasea (New Britain) obsidian, the range of distribution is correlated with quality: high quality material is carried furthest. The gap between the distributions of material from these two sources is now very small, but crucial, for it lies in the subtropical zone between long-settled East Melanesia and the much more recently settled South Polynesia. Quite different implications would be drawn if Talasea obsidian were to be found further south, or Mayor island obsidian further north. The present distribution reinforces the appearance of post-colonial isolation in South Polynesia.
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