Marae of Tahiti, Society Islands

Summary

Since the pionneering studies of Kenneth Pike Emory in the begining of the 20th centyry, the ancient temples, marae, have been considered as good markers of social status, revealing the research focus on the complexification processes of polynesian societies.

Despite the lack of substantial chronological data on marae of the island of Tahiti, crossing architectural components of marae with their spatial context and ethnohistoric sources, provided an evolutive spatial model that might be originated from the Leeward islands. This presentation will explore the relations and alliances between some Society islands chiefdoms that can be inferred from both ceremonial architecture and oral traditions.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Ceremonial architecture in Eastern Polynesia: Development & Variability

Keywords

Spatial Coverage