The Archaeology of Trans-Pacific Interactions. Evaluating Cultural Transmission Between Polynesia and Southamerica
Author | : Karolyn Lindsay Buhring |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 0 |
Release | : 2020 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:1390206865 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (65 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: Traditionally, the study of long-distance interaction has been approached by applying culture history concepts of diffusion and migration through the analysis of typologies and styles in material culture. Although these approaches have generated a valuable amount of information, it is necessary to utilise new methods and models that appropriately recognise the difficulties of assessing cultural relatedness and transmission processes from material culture. Chile has been proposed by many as an area with evidence of contact between Polynesia and South America prior to European arrival. The patchy nature of the evidence and the lack of clear Polynesian archaeological contexts found in South America has limited further development of this line of research. No studies have provided conclusive evidence for or against trans-Pacific contact in Chile prior to European arrival. This thesis critically evaluates the evidence of pre-European trans-Pacific interaction by studying material culture from Polynesia and Chile. This analysis includes a phylogenetic analysis of hand clubs, previously proposed as evidence of contact. In addition, this research includes a re-evaluation of the El Arenal 1 archaeological site in central southern Chile, which has been suggested as evidence of contact with Polynesia based on chicken DNA data. The results are assessed into the broader Polynesian and South American context to explore cultural transmission and long-distance interaction on a macro-regional scale. The results of the phylogenetic study on hand clubs indicate that that there is not sufficient evidence regarding cultural transmission during prehistory and that Chilean hand club traditions most likely are the result of a South American tradition, which during historic times possibly came into contact with a tradition from New Zealand. The re-evaluation of the Arenal 1 site produced no evidence of links with Polynesia and highlighted the possibility of species mis-identification during the previous investigations. These results suggest that focus should now move to alternative geographic areas, where sweet potato and other plant species that were possibly introduced to Polynesia are available.