Examining the Causes of Migration into East Polynesia: A Bayesian Chronology Perspective on the Ideal-Free Distribution Model

Summary

The colonization of the islands of East Polynesia was one of the most rapid and expansive migratory events in human history. While extensive research focuses on determining the chronology of East Polynesia colonization, far less attention has been placed on elucidating the processes that influenced this migration. The Ideal Free Distribution Model of human behavioral ecology has proven useful for exploring a range of issues regarding colonization and mobility in varying ecological contexts around the globe. In this presentation we use the Ideal Free Distribution Model to generate prediction about the factors that influenced movement out of West Polynesia into East Polynesia. As context for the study, we begin by reevaluating the suite of initial radiocarbon dates for East Polynesia using a Bayesian calibration framework. We then revisit West Polynesian archaeological assemblages dating to the time period directly preceding the colonization of East Polynesia and review the archaeological evidence for inland settlement, increased competition, and emerging status differentiation. These results are integrated into a Bayesian chronological model and compared statistically with our estimate for East Polynesian colonization. Finally, we address a set of hypotheses based on the Ideal Free Distribution Model in light of our results.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Sailing at the Edge of Time: Global Perspectives on Island Colonization

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16395