Prehistory and ecology in a windward Hawaiian valley: Halawa Valley, Molokai

Dept. of Anthropology, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum • (24) • Published In 1975 • Pages: xiv, 207

By: Kirch, Patrick Vinton, Kelly, M. (Marion), Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Rosendahl, Paul H. (Paul Harmer), Riley, Thomas J., Hendren, Gilbert H..

Abstract

Kirch reports on the archaeological investigations of the Halawa Valley Project. Halawa is a windward valley on the island of Molokai. One goal of the report was to understand the settlement patterns of the valley by examining residential, ceremonial, and agricultural sites. The structural remains examined included habitation terraces, house remains, cook house remains; aboriginal agricultural features such as agricultural terraces, irrigation ditches, pens, and walls; ceremonial platforms, shrines, named HEIAU; and other features such as burials, foot trails, stone walls, and one large cleared area. Excavations were also carried out at the mouth of the valley at a stratified sand dune site that dates to A.D. 650. The site appears to contain the remains of the valley's original settlement. Kirch briefly compares the valley's archaeology with the rest of Hawaii and proposes a local chronological framework which is composed of three prehistoric phases.

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Polynesia

Evaluation

Creator Type

Archaeologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Notes

Patrick Vinton Kirch and Marion Kelly, editors ; contributions by Gilbert H. Hendren … [et al.]

Includes bibliographical references (p. 196-203)

LCCN

75035304

LCSH

Hawaii--Antiquities