A Proposal
for Archaeological Investigation of the island of Raivavae, Austral
Islands, French Polynesia
For the consideration
of the Minister of Culture of French Polynesia
Preamble.
Our proposal stems from discussions, commencing during the Second Congress on Easter Island and East Polynesian Prehistory (held on Rapanui in 1996 and a later Seminar in 2002) by archaeologists from Chile, Tahiti, New Zealand and the United States, concerning the desirability to intensify the archaeological studies in Raivavae to determinate its cultural history, and its relationship in the settlement of the Austral. Island Archipelago.
This project that would last a minimum of 2 sessions of 2 to 3 months each over the next two years, will have at least three significant results: (1) it will determinate when Raivavae was settled and its relationships with the other Austral Islands trading networks; (2) it will contribute new knowledge with respect to several important questions in Eastern Polynesian archaeology, and; (3) it will provide a culture history of the development of the culture of Raivavae.
Selection and Significance
of Field Location.
Raivavae occupies a critical position- geographically and culturally
within Eastern Polynesia, yet we suffer from lack of systematic
data regarding this island. Despite the seminal ethnographic
work carried out by W. Stokes in 1921 and the pioneering sondages
and a limited survey done by Dr. Arne Skjølsvold during
the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to Easter Island and
the Eastern Pacific in 1966, no subsurface excavations have been
carried out since, to try develop a culture history of Raivavae.
Between 1986 and 1991 E. Edwards
with a team of workers from Raivavae, carried out the complete
archaeological survey of the Island, in which a total of 610
compound structures and isolated components and features scattered
throughout Raivavae were recorded. The results of this mayor
work, the first complete inventory of one of the Austral Islands,
was published in 2003. The analyses of the survey results, permitted
classifying these archaeological feature into: (1) residential,
(2) ceremonial or ritual sites, (3) agricultural complexes or:
(4) special function sites, as well as to determinate its ancient
settlement pattern. On the other hand the ethnographic data collected,
permitted Edwards to define ancient territorial divisions, lineage
and clan boundaries with their resources potentials, as well
as estimated population at the time of European settlement in
the early XIX century. Therefore with this study, the first phase
of the archeological investigation of Raivavae was achieved.
Potential sites that could yield important stratified middens
have been identified but not excavated.
Many ceremonial structures appear related to voyaging and trade
between neighboring islands, and to other archipelagos such as
the Society Islands, that formed part of a former trading networks,
as described to Cook by the Raiatean priest Tupaia, but the extent
and frequency of this trade needs to be determined. (Cook 1774)
Raivavae is also likely to yield important new raw data on the ancient biodiversity of the Eastern Pacific, for as in other islands, we anticipate that modern excavations will yield rich faunal and floral materials, such as the bones of now-extinct bird species, the shells of endemic land snails, and the charcoal of indigenous trees and plants, formerly specific to the island. Such information will be of great interest not only to archaeologists but also to biologists and biogeographers of the Pacific.
It is for these reasons that we have selected Raivavae, and for which we propose the following specific research objectives.
Specific Research Goals.
2. - Chronology of Eastern Pacific Colonization.
One of the outstanding unanswered questions of Polynesia prehistory concerns the timing of human discovery and settlement of the islands. In recent years, scholars have debated this issue, with advocates of both a "long" and a "short" chronology. Yet the problem cannot be resolved without new data from excavations of islands that have yet to be investigated such as Raivavae that has a long traditional voyaging history as described by its many oral histories. (Edwards 2003). By testing and dating early occupational deposits on Raivavae, we expect to obtain critical information relative to this vexing problem, and learn more about the early tool assemblages of those Polynesians that settled eastern Polynesia.
2. - Determine the chronological sequence of settlement of the secondary mataeina'a territories.
According to oral tradition, secondary resource areas were settled by lesser mataeina'a, once demographic pressures and scarcity of resources had developed in both calderas. Therefore if the settlement sequence of these areas is determined, we would be able to know when this stressful situation occurred. The strategy employed would be to sondage habitational sites belonging to the following categories; Rectangular house foundations (type A1); Round ended house foundations (type2A); and some irrigated field systems in all secondary resource areas.
3. - Carry out a detailed study of marae architecture.
A detailed study of the marae architecture, would greatly contribute to understand how political chiefdoms developed before European contact. It may be possible to determine the evolution of religious architectural sequences, especially if, as in other Polynesian marae, some of them are stratified with other older structures buried beneath them. Therefore sondages upon several marae corresponding to the following categories would be performed. Type B1 (open court marae); Type B2 (Enclosed court marae): Type B3 (enclosed court marae with statues and alleyway)
3. - The impact of human colonization upon the Raivavae ecosystem and reconstruction of the islands ancient environment.
Recent research by archaeologist's in collaboration with paleontologists has revealed that prior to human colonization, the islands of central and eastern Polynesia were the home to numerous endemic and indigenous species of birds, land snails, and plants. Inevitably, clearing land for gardens and the growth of large populations led to the demise of this original biodiversity. The discovery of the extinct bones and other remains of these animals and plants have been among the most important scientific results from Polynesia in the 20th century. Almost certainly, similar materials exist in the archaeological deposits of Raivavae, and it is one of our primary objectives to use such evidence to reconstruct the ancient environment of the island.
The Research Team.
The principal members of the research team we have assembled so far are as follows, with their institutional affiliations:
Instituto de Estudios Isla de Pascua, Universidad de Chile.
Prof. Patricia Vargas Casanova,
Archaeologist and Director of the Institute.
Prof. Claudio Cristino Ferrando, Archaeologist.
Eastern Pacific Research
Foundation.
Edmundo Edwards Eastman.
Archaeologist.
Lynn Danaher, Photographer and field assistant
Alexandra Edwards, Field assistant
Margarita Riroroko. Field assistant.
This group of researchers has extensive prior experience in the archaeology of the eastern Pacific Islands, including significant research ranging from the Austral, Marquesas and Society Islands to Easter Island.
Field and Laboratory Methods.
Fieldwork in Raivavae will include, test excavation of subsurface sites, and more extensive excavation of key sites selected after this phase has been completed. Our field methods will follow internationally accepted standards, but will also comprise several specialized and innovative analytical techniques. These will include XRF analysis (by non-destructive means) of stone tools to determinate source origins: the recovery and determination of ancient plant remains (charcoal; opal phytoliths; starch grains; pollen); AMS dating of charcoal samples; expert identification of extinct bird and other faunal materials; etc. All data will be entered into a standardized set of database files available to all project members through an intra-net web site.
Disposition of Artifacts and Samples
All culturally- significant finished artifacts (e.g. adzes; food ponders; fishhooks; ornaments, will be cataloged and deposited in the collection of the Raivavae Museum, as soon as possible after the completion of fieldwork, a preliminary report, including a catalog of objects will be left there. This will allow for the possibility of repatriation of culturalimportant materials to the island. Specific permission will be required in advance for the analysis of samples (e.g. faunal materials, sediment samples) that require specialized equipment not available on the island.
Proposed schedule
April 2005: Submission of proposal to the Minister of Culture of French Polynesia.
September 2005 February 2006: Review of previous data; compilation of detailed bibliographical references, aerial photos, topographic base maps, etc; Logistical preparations including visit to Raivavae by a representative of the research team (discussion of project objectives with local authorities.)
March May 2006: fieldwork on Raivavae by project members.
July-August 2006: Preparation and submission of preliminary report.
August December 2006: Analysis of materials and writing of final reports for publication.
December 2006: Submission of final project report in manuscript form, and proposal for the second phase of the project.
Bibliography;
Cook, James. 1777 Second voyage towards the South Pole and Round the World, Performed in the "Resolution" and "Adventure" 1772-75. 2 vols. London
Edwards, Edmundo. 2003 "Ra'ivavae. Archaeological Survey of Ra'ivavae, Austral Islands, French Polynesia' (224 p) The Easter Island Foundation ISBN 1-880636-21-2.
The Eastern Pacific Research Foundation
The Foundation
The Eastern Pacific Research Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization based in Dallas, Texas, providing funds for research, education and exploration of Easter Island as well as of other areas of Eastern Polynesia.
Contact Information
Robert Lemker , President
435 Valley Glen Dr.
Richardson, TX 75080
E-mail: rblemker@rapa-nui.org
Edmundo Edwards, Vice President
Hangaroa, Easter Island, Chile
Phones: 56-32-100532 and 56-32-551611
E-mail: eeastman@entelchile.net