Palaeobotany and the early development of agriculture on Rapa Island

Prebble, Matthew; Anderson, A.E.

doi:10.22459/ta37.11.2012.10

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Native Hawaiians made no use of any part of S. polynesicum ( keahi ) in the early 20th century, despite the wood being quite hard and durable (Rock, 1913: 380–381). It was, however, an esteemed fuelwood on Rapa (where it was called kalaka and karaka ) in the early 20th century (Brown, 1935; Lam, 1938; Prebble and Anderson, 2012 citing unpublished field notes of J Stokes) and karaka was inventoried as a fuelwood in the Rapan ethnology manuscript (Stokes, n.d.: 236–243A). It should be noted that the trees of this family do have uses in western Polynesia, especially Planchonella and Palaquium , the latter of which is an important commercial timber, and in Samoa they have construction and craft uses that include houseposts, carved artefacts and canoes (Whistler, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenically driven decline and extinction of Sapotaceae on Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands, East Polynesia)

Huebert

2015

The Holocene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The native forests of the central and eastern Pacific Islands were extensively modified by Polynesian settlers, but our understanding of these processes is generalised. In the first large study of anthropogenic forest change in the Marquesas Islands, the identification of two members of the Sapotaceae family in prehistoric archaeological charcoal assemblages was notable. Extant species from this family are poorly represented in East Polynesia, and the findings of Planchonella and another taxon (cf. Sideroxylon) indicate their geographical distribution was once more extensive than it is today. They further suggest some Sapotaceae may have been common elements of the indigenous lowland forests of the eastern high islands of Polynesia. Charcoal from the aforementioned taxa were found in early cultural contexts at archaeological sites in three Marquesan valleys, but were almost undetectable in late prehistoric contexts. These declines could be attributed to overexploitation of the wood, forest clearance and seed predation by introduced rats. Data from another archaeological site in the archipelago also suggest that links with reductions in native frugivorous bird populations should be explored. This study has informed on a group of plants that are not well-represented in pollen spectra in the region, and further highlights the usefulness of archaeobotanical data in studying palaeoecological processes in the Holocene.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenically driven decline and extinction of Sapotaceae on Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands, East Polynesia)

Huebert

2015

The Holocene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…; Kirch , ; Kirch & Ellison ; Kirch et al. ; Prebble ; Prebble & Anderson ; Prebble & Dowe ; Prebble & Wilmshurst ; Steadman ) provided indirect signals of human arrival into the fragile island ecosystems. Palaeoecological records indicate first human impacts in Rimatara and Mangaia between 1100 and 1300 CE (Prebble & Wilmshurst ), which is consistent with previous radiocarbon dating from Tangatatau rock shelter on Mangaia Island (Kirch et al.…”

Section: Tubuai the Austral Archipelago And The Colonisation Of Centmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Atiahara site revisited: An early coastal settlement in Tubuai (Austral Islands, French Polynesia)

Hermann

Bollt

Conte

2015

Archaeology in Oceania

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Atiahara site is the first and only excavated site on Tubuai Island (Austral archipelago, French Polynesia). It was accidently discovered in 1994 and has been excavated on several occasions since then, over a surface of 197 m 2 . This paper aims to present a compilation of the data available from the excavations, with a specific focus on stratigraphy, a spatial analysis of preserved occupations and new radiocarbon dates. We report a short dating sequence running from 1215 to 1390 CE, which makes the Atiahara site one of the earliest settlements in the Austral Islands. Finally, we mention the potential for tackling important topics in Polynesian archaeology through this key site, including the evolution of material culture and fishing strategies, socio-economic dynamics within a central Polynesian domestic context and possible climate variability in the region. RÈSUMÈLe site d'Atiahara est le premier, età ce jour le seul, fouillé sur l'île de Tubuai (Archipel des Australes, Polynésie française). Découvert fortuitement en 1994, il a fait l'objet de plusieurs opérations archéologiques, et ce sur 197 m 2 . L'objectif de cet article est de présenter une synthèse des données spatiales et stratigraphiques récoltées au cours des différents terrains, ainsi que les datations radiocarbones effectuées sur des charbons issus des différents niveaux archéologiques. La séquence chronostratigraphique mise enévidence est relativement courte, avec des occupations domestiques datant entre 1215 et 1390 CE, ce qui fait d'Atiahara l'un des plus anciens sites de peuplement connu dans l'archipel des Australes. Nousévoquons les différents aspects qui devrontêtre abordés prochainementà travers l'étude de cet habitat côtier, et notamment les activités artisanales, les stratégies de subsistance, etéventuellement les perturbations du climat au cours de la première moitié du second millénaire de notreère.

show abstract

East Polynesian Islands as Models of Cultural Divergence: The Case of Rapa Nui and Rapa Iti

DiNapoli

Morrison

Lipo

et al. 2017

The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Palaeobotany and the early development of agriculture on Rapa Island

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Anthropogenically driven decline and extinction of Sapotaceae on Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands, East Polynesia)

Anthropogenically driven decline and extinction of Sapotaceae on Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands, East Polynesia)

The Atiahara site revisited: An early coastal settlement in Tubuai (Austral Islands, French Polynesia)

East Polynesian Islands as Models of Cultural Divergence: The Case of Rapa Nui and Rapa Iti

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About