Notes

Contents How is pounamu formed? -- Where is pounamu found? -- Maori and Pounamu -- Pounamu after European arrival -- Jade in other ancient cultures -- The modern story.

Pounamu, or greenstone, was unlike anything that Maori had come across before. Its hardness meant that it was difficult to break. Its toughness meant that it was almost impossible to flake. Pounamu turned out to be the perfect raw material for tools, weapons, and ornaments. It was like a stone made out of metal.

Includes bibliographical references.