Fishhook variability and cultural transmission in East Polynesia

Abstract

The colonisation of East Polynesia unfolded as a rapid dispersal by culturally related groups on a massive geographical scale. In settling distant oceanic islands, populations developed new technology in response to local environments, but also shared selectively neutral aspects of artefact design. Building on the work of Sinoto and Allen, we examine proximal endpoint line‐attachment‐devices (LADs) in fishhook assemblages from East Polynesia to address issues of interaction and cultural sharing among island communities. We construct relational networks using artefact classes and employ a series of non‐parametric randomisation tests to directly evaluate the influence of geographical distribution on assemblage similarity in a time‐averaged dataset. The results support a model of cultural transmission through social interaction largely irrespective of geographical distance. Our results show the degree of cultural relatedness among various fishhook assemblages, and we consider some implications for human migrations in East Polynesia.

An early (pre‐1500 BP) fishhook assemblage from Ofu and Olosega islands, Manu‘a Group, American Samoa: implications for technological evolution and cultural interaction

“…Variation, then, is well documented, but the exact criteria for inclusion in any class are rarely stated and the use of paradigmatic classification, which has proven effective in East Polynesia (Allen 1996; Graves & McElroy 2005; J. O'Connor et al . 2017), has not been applied to Central Pacific collections.…”

“…The analysis of the Ofu and Olosega fishhook assemblage focused on attributes highlighted in previous studies to be associated with either function or style (Figure 2) (Allen 1996; J. O'Connor et al . 2017; Pfeffer 2001). Unfortunately, the fragmented nature of the assemblage made it difficult to replicate precisely the functional and stylistic categories previously developed, and our discussion will largely focus on the attributes of individual segments of each hook.…”

“…Attention has been given to the evolution of fishhook morphologies as mechanisms of group identity, exchange and human adaptation (Allen 1996; Kirch 1980; J. O'Connor et al . 2017; Rolett 1998; Walter & Campbell 1996). This is especially true in Polynesia where research has focused on using fishhook line attachment devices to construct relative chronologies (Sinoto 1962, 1991), evaluating performance characteristics of different hook morphologies (Allen 1996; Pfeffer 2001; Reinman 1970) and addressing questions relating to cultural relatedness and interaction through identification of shared stylistic attributes (e.g.…”

“…1959; Sinoto 1970; J. O'Connor et al . 2017). Such research, however, requires datasets comparable between islands that are sufficiently extensive spatially and temporally to address the questions of interest.…”

“…2011: 1120), Alor (S. O'Connor et al . 2017) and possibly New Ireland (Smith & Allen 1999). Evidence from the early‐ and mid‐Holocene is also sparse, coming from East Timor (O'Connor et al .…”