Project members

Current research project:

"Local Development and Regional Interactions"
Archaeological project on the island of Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia

This project deals with archaeological investigations of ceremonial stone structures, which in Eastern Polynesia is generally called marae. The aims of the surveys and excavations carried out is to get an overview of the structures location in the landscape, to understand their spatial relations, and the organisation of the ritual space in prehistoric times. Other aims are to investigate the meanings of the variations of the marae. This is done through selected excavations of different marae types to secure dateable organic material, such as, charcoal and bones found in stratigraphically controlled contexts, which will be processed by the radiocarbon method. This is done to make a chronological frame for ceremonial sites in Huahine, possibly valid for marae in the Society Islands. When studies of space, types and chronology is established locally, the results can be used on wider regional levels in the East Polynesian context.

The preliminary results so far show that the choice of place was of great importance when it comes to the location of different marae types. The most impressive monuments were located to highly spectacular visible points at the coast, while more 'ordinary' structures are to be found scattered on the landscape probably mainly as a sign of land control. The smallest marae are mainly to be found inland or tied to larger structures, as structures with a specialised function. Our chronological studies so far, do not really confirm any ties between marae type and a certain time period. Small and 'simple' marae are for example not proven to be early, but large coastal structures on the other hand, seems to be fairly late, especially the ones that are exposed to the sea. We still need more information on the local level before developing any far-reaching conclusions on the regional interactions. However, there are a clear relation between the ceremonial structures in East Polynesia, and that they have developed in East Polynesia, as well as there is a clear difference between East and West Polynesia, when it comes to religious material remains visible on the landscape.