Tracing the movement of ancient Hawaiian adzes through the islands with non-destructive geochemical analysis

Professor Peter Mills will present an overview of his research involving non-destructive energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) to study production and exchange patterns involving ancient Hawaiian stone tools. The long-running project has helped define the role of a high-elevation adze quarry (the Mauna Kea Adze Quarry ~ 12,000 ft. asl), and other less well-known quarry sites in ancient Hawaiian economies, inter-island voyaging, and trade.