book chapter
Niuatoputapu: the prehistory of a Polynesian chiefdom
Burke Museum • (5) • Published In 1988 • Pages: i-ix, 1-273
By: Kirch, Patrick Vinton.
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
Kirch conducted an archaeological survey of the island and excavated several sites and many mounds. Kirch also conducted botanical, faunal, and geological surveys of the island and of the the surrounding sea to understand the various resources of the island. The artifacts found are analyzed and the ceramics and adzes are typed to help date the sites and produce a sequence for Niuatoputapu island. Kirch then examines some of the interactions that occurred between Niuatoputapu and Tafahi and the rest of Tonga and in western Polynesia. This source discusses the archaeology of Niuatoputapu from initial the initial Lapita settlement to the historic period. Where possible, the document was not marked with OCM subjects (Outline of Cultural Materials) for the Lapita data. However, as the sites are not well stratified, it was frequently not possible to separate the earlier Lapita data from the later Polynesian Plainware data. For instance, there are two decorative techniques that are not indicative of the Lapita tradition. They are incising and notching that are found on the lip of ceramic vessel. These techniques were indexed for OCM subjects where is was clear Kirch was discussing these two techniques specifically. Otherwise, ceramic decoration (which indicates the Lapita tradition) was not indexed for OCM subjects.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Miscellaneous structures
- Ceramic technology
- Archaeological excavation methods
- General tools
- Geography
- traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Tongan
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2009
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Oceania
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Polynesia
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- book chapter
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Archaeologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Sarah Berry; 2008
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1976
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 3200 BP-400 BP (1200 B.C.-1600 BP)
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Niuatoputapu, Tonga
- NotesAdditional notes
- Patrick Vinton Kirch
- Includes bibliographical references (p. [261]-269)
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 88007482
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Prehistoric peoples--Tonga--Niuatoputapu Island/Polynesians--Antiquities/Niuatoputapu Island (Tonga)--Antiquities/Tonga--Antiquities