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Polynesian Construction: A Legacy of Innovation in Harmony with Nature
Introduction:
Imagine a world where buildings seamlessly blend with their environment, where resilient structures withstand the forces of nature for centuries, and where ingenious building techniques utilize readily available resources. This is the world of Polynesian construction, a testament to human ingenuity and a deep understanding of the natural world. This comprehensive guide delves into the fascinating history, techniques, and enduring legacy of Polynesian architecture, exploring the diverse approaches employed across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. We’ll uncover the secrets behind their remarkable achievements, examining the materials, methods, and cultural significance behind their awe-inspiring structures. Prepare to be amazed by the ingenuity and sustainability of Polynesian construction, a legacy that continues to inspire architects and engineers today.
1. The Diverse Landscape of Polynesian Architecture:
The term "Polynesian construction" encompasses a vast array of building styles and techniques adapted to the unique environments and resources of countless islands. From the soaring marae of the Eastern Polynesian islands to the intricate houses of the Western Polynesian archipelago, each region developed its own distinctive architectural character. This diversity reflects not only environmental factors – such as readily available materials and prevailing weather patterns – but also the rich tapestry of Polynesian cultures and traditions. Consider the dramatic differences between the raised platforms and stone structures of Easter Island and the lightweight, easily-movable houses of the Cook Islands. This section will explore the key regional variations, highlighting the common threads and unique adaptations that shaped Polynesian building traditions.
2. Materials and Resources: Working with What Nature Provides:
Polynesian builders demonstrated an exceptional understanding of their environment, masterfully utilizing locally sourced materials. Wood, the most prevalent material, played a crucial role, with different species chosen for their specific properties – strength, flexibility, durability, and resistance to decay. The availability of certain tree species varied widely across different islands, leading to innovative adaptations in construction methods. For example, the use of coconut palm fronds for thatching, bamboo for scaffolding, and volcanic rock for foundations, demonstrates the ingenious resourcefulness of Polynesian builders. This section will detail the diverse materials employed and how they were skillfully manipulated to create robust and aesthetically pleasing structures.
3. Key Construction Techniques: Mastering Ancient Skills:
Polynesian construction techniques were refined over generations, reflecting a deep understanding of structural engineering principles. Master builders possessed intricate knowledge of geometry, weight distribution, and material properties. Techniques like mortise and tenon joinery, lashing with coconut fiber or vines, and the creation of intricate frameworks, allowed them to erect impressive structures without the use of nails or metal fasteners. The skill of erecting monumental stone structures on Easter Island, or the precise fitting of timbers in a traditional Polynesian house, reveal a sophisticated level of craftsmanship and planning. We will explore these ingenious techniques in detail, showcasing their elegance and efficiency.
4. The Cultural Significance of Polynesian Buildings:
Polynesian buildings were more than just shelters; they were integral components of their social and spiritual lives. Marae, large ceremonial platforms, served as focal points for religious and communal activities, while houses reflected social status and family lineage. The intricate carvings, symbolic patterns, and carefully chosen locations all held deep cultural significance. This section will delve into the rich symbolism embedded within Polynesian architecture, exploring the link between building design and social, spiritual, and political systems. The careful placement of villages in relation to the landscape, the orientations of structures, and the decorative motifs all tell a fascinating story about Polynesian beliefs and values.
5. The Enduring Legacy of Polynesian Construction:
Despite the challenges of colonization and modernization, the legacy of Polynesian construction continues to inspire. Contemporary architects and engineers are increasingly drawing upon traditional Polynesian techniques to create sustainable and resilient structures that respect the environment. The focus on locally sourced materials, natural ventilation, and energy efficiency resonates with modern sustainability goals. This section will examine the ongoing relevance of Polynesian building traditions in contemporary architecture, highlighting examples of projects that draw inspiration from these ancient methods. We will also explore ongoing efforts to preserve and document these invaluable traditions for future generations.
Article Outline:
Title: Polynesian Construction: A Legacy of Innovation in Harmony with Nature
I. Introduction: Hooking the reader and providing an overview.
II. The Diverse Landscape of Polynesian Architecture: Exploring regional variations and adaptations.
III. Materials and Resources: Working with What Nature Provides: Detailing the diverse materials used and their properties.
IV. Key Construction Techniques: Mastering Ancient Skills: Explaining ingenious construction methods and joinery.
V. The Cultural Significance of Polynesian Buildings: Exploring the social, spiritual, and symbolic aspects of architecture.
VI. The Enduring Legacy of Polynesian Construction: Examining the relevance of Polynesian building traditions today.
VII. Conclusion: Summarizing key takeaways and emphasizing the enduring value of Polynesian construction.
(The detailed content for each section is provided above in the main article body.)
FAQs:
1. What were the most common materials used in Polynesian construction? Wood, particularly specific species chosen for strength and durability, was the primary material, supplemented by bamboo, coconut fronds, volcanic rock, and vines.
2. What are some examples of key Polynesian construction techniques? Mortise and tenon joinery, lashing with coconut fiber or vines, and the creation of intricate frameworks are key examples.
3. How did the environment influence Polynesian building styles? The availability of resources, climate, and topography heavily influenced the choice of materials and construction techniques.
4. What is the significance of Marae in Polynesian culture? Marae were large ceremonial platforms serving as focal points for religious and communal activities, reflecting social and spiritual importance.
5. How did Polynesian builders ensure the stability of their structures? A deep understanding of structural engineering principles, weight distribution, and material properties ensured stability.
6. What are some modern applications of Polynesian construction techniques? Contemporary architects utilize principles of sustainability, natural ventilation, and locally sourced materials inspired by Polynesian methods.
7. How sustainable were Polynesian building practices? Their approach was highly sustainable, employing readily available resources and minimizing environmental impact.
8. Are there any efforts to preserve traditional Polynesian building skills? Yes, many organizations and communities work to document and preserve these valuable traditions through education and restoration projects.
9. Where can I learn more about specific examples of Polynesian architecture? Numerous books, documentaries, and academic papers delve into the details of specific islands and their unique building traditions.
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2. Hawaiian Hale Construction: A focus on traditional Hawaiian house building techniques.
3. Samoan Fale Construction: Examining the unique design and construction of Samoan houses.
4. Tahitian Marae Architecture: Deep dive into the religious and cultural significance of Tahitian platforms.
5. Tongan Construction Methods: An overview of building practices in the Kingdom of Tonga.
6. The Role of Sustainability in Polynesian Architecture: Examining the environmental consciousness of Polynesian builders.
7. Preserving Polynesian Building Traditions: Highlighting efforts to safeguard these unique skills and knowledge.
8. The Influence of Polynesian Architecture on Contemporary Design: Exploring modern applications of Polynesian building principles.
9. Comparing Polynesian and other Pacific Island Construction Techniques: Exploring similarities and differences across the Pacific.
| polynesian construction: Marquesan Gabriele H. Cablitz, 2008-08-22 This volume investigates the linguistic and semantic encodings and conceptions of space in the East-Polynesian language Marquesan by focusing on the great variety of language- and culture-specific ways of referring to space, thus documenting an essential part of human behaviour and everyday communication in a South Pacific island population. On the basis of a large corpus of both natural and elicited spoken language data the morphosyntactic and semantic properties of all relevant lexical and grammatical units and constructions used for spatial reference are analysed in detail. Remarkable for this language is the fact that a particular kind of spatial orientation system based on local landmarks of the environment - a so-called 'absolute system' - is used for spatial description even on a micro-level or so-called 'table-top' space. Marquesan - A Grammar of Space is the first comprehensive description and in-depth study of spatial language to be found in an Austronesian language. Apart from examining the complex sociolinguistic situation, the degree of language endangerment in the bilingual speech community and the resulting rapid linguistic change in spatial language use, the book also offers a detailed description of the theoretical background of 'language and space' research and the linguistic variability to be found across languages. Moreover, the volume contains an extensive grammatical sketch of Marquesan which complements the language description of the specific domain space in a useful way providing the reader with general insights into one of the not well documented Oceanic languages. The volume addresses linguists, psycholinguists, anthropologists, fieldworking linguists, and especially Oceanists and Austronesianists. Moreover, it provides important insights for researchers from other disciplines that are interested in the study of space. |
| polynesian construction: Possessing Polynesians Maile Renee Arvin, 2019-11-08 From their earliest encounters with Indigenous Pacific Islanders, white Europeans and Americans asserted an identification with the racial origins of Polynesians, declaring them to be racially almost white and speculating that they were of Mediterranean or Aryan descent. In Possessing Polynesians Maile Arvin analyzes this racializing history within the context of settler colonialism across Polynesia, especially in Hawai‘i. Arvin argues that a logic of possession through whiteness animates settler colonialism, by which both Polynesia (the place) and Polynesians (the people) become exotic, feminized belongings of whiteness. Seeing whiteness as indigenous to Polynesia provided white settlers with the justification needed to claim Polynesian lands and resources. Understood as possessions, Polynesians were and continue to be denied the privileges of whiteness. Yet Polynesians have long contested these classifications, claims, and cultural representations, and Arvin shows how their resistance to and refusal of white settler logic have regenerated Indigenous forms of recognition. |
| polynesian construction: The Evolution of the Polynesian Chiefdoms Patrick Vinton Kirch, 1989-07-13 A first study from an archaeological perspective of the elaborate systems of Polynesian chiefdoms presents an original account of the processes of cultural change and evolution over three millennia. |
| polynesian construction: Polynesia in Early Historic Times Douglas L. Oliver, 2002 This book presents a comprehensive and balanced description of major aspects of Polynesian cultures, using both the accounts of the European discoverers and the up-to-date writings of archaeologists and anthropologists.--BOOKJACKET. |
| polynesian construction: Nonconventional and Vernacular Construction Materials Kent A. Harries, Bhavna Sharma, 2019-11-18 Nonconventional and Vernacular Construction Materials: Characterisation, Properties and Applications, Second Edition covers the topic by taking into account sustainability, the conservation movement, and current interests in cultural identity and its preservation. This updated edition presents case studies, information on relevant codes and regulations, and how they apply (or do not apply) to nocmats. Leading international experts contribute chapters on current applications and the engineering of these construction materials. Sections review vernacular construction, provide future directions for nonconventional and vernacular materials research, focus on natural fibers, and cover the use of industrial byproducts and natural ashes in cement mortar and concrete. - Takes a scientifically rigorous approach to vernacular and non-conventional building materials and their applications - Includes a series of case studies and new material on codes and regulations, thus providing an invaluable compendium of practical knowhow - Presents the wider context of materials science and its applications in the sustainability agenda |
| polynesian construction: The Global Prehistory of Human Migration Immanuel Ness, 2014-11-10 Previously published as the first volume of The Encyclopedia of Global Human Migration, this work is devoted exclusively to prehistoric migration, covering all periods and places from the first hominin migrations out of Africa through the end of prehistory. Presents interdisciplinary coverage of this topic, including scholarship from the fields of archaeology, anthropology, genetics, biology, linguistics, and more Includes contributions from a diverse international team of authors, representing 17 countries and a variety of disciplines Divided into two sections, covering the Pleistocene and Holocene; each section examines human migration through chapters that focus on different regional and disciplinary lenses |
| polynesian construction: Polynesians in America Terry L. Jones, Alice A. Storey, Elizabeth A. Matisoo-Smith, José Miguel Ramírez-Aliaga, 2011-01-16 The possibility that Polynesian seafarers made landfall and interacted with the native people of the New World before Columbus has been the topic of academic discussion for well over a century, although American archaeologists have considered the idea verboten since the 1970s. Fresh discoveries made with the aid of new technologies along with re-evaluation of longstanding but often-ignored evidence provide a stronger case than ever before for multiple prehistoric Polynesian landfalls. This book reviews the debate, evaluates theoretical trends that have discouraged consideration of trans-oceanic contacts, summarizes the historic evidence and supplements it with recent archaeological, linguistic, botanical, and physical anthropological findings. Written by leading experts in their fields, this is a must-have volume for archaeologists, historians, anthropologists and anyone else interested in the remarkable long-distance voyages made by Polynesians. The combined evidence is used to argue that that Polynesians almost certainly made landfall in southern South America on the coast of Chile, in northern South America in the vicinity of the Gulf of Guayaquil, and on the coast of southern California in North America. |
| polynesian construction: First Contacts in Polynesia - the Samoan Case (1722-1848) Serge Tcherkezoff, 2008-08-01 This book explores the first encounters between Samoans and Europeans up to the arrival of the missionaries, using all available sources for the years 1722 to the 1830s, paying special attention to the first encounter on land with the Laperouse expedition. Many of the sources used are French, and some of difficult accessibility, and thus they have not previously been thoroughly examined by historians. Adding some Polynesian comparisons from beyond Samoa, and reconsidering the so-called 'Sahlins-Obeyesekere debate' about the fate of Captain Cook, 'First Contacts' in Polynesia advances a hypothesis about the contemporary interpretations made by the Polynesians of the nature of the Europeans, and about the actions that the Polynesians devised for this encounter: wrapping Europeans up in 'cloth' and presenting 'young girls' for 'sexual contact'. It also discusses how we can go back two centuries and attempt to reconstitute, even if only partially, the point of view of those who had to discover for themselves these Europeans whom they call 'Papalagi'. The book also contributes an additional dimension to the much-touted 'Mead-Freeman debate' which bears on the rules and values regulating adolescent sexuality in 'Samoan culture'. Scholars have long considered the pre-missionary times as a period in which freedom in sexuality for adolescents predominated. It appears now that this erroneous view emerged from a deep misinterpretation of Laperouse's and Dumont d'Urville's narratives. |
| polynesian construction: Tangata Whenua Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, 2014-11-15 Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History charts the sweep of Māori history from ancient origins through to the twenty-first century. Through narrative and images, it offers a striking overview of the past, grounded in specific localities and histories. The story begins with the migration of ancestral peoples out of South China, some 5,000 years ago. Moving through the Pacific, these early voyagers arrived in Aotearoa early in the second millennium AD, establishing themselves as tangata whenua in the place that would become New Zealand. By the nineteenth century, another wave of settlers brought new technology, ideas and trading opportunities – and a struggle for control of the land. Survival and resilience shape the history as it extends into the twentieth century, through two world wars, the growth of an urban culture, rising protest, and Treaty settlements. Today, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, Māori are drawing on both international connections and their ancestral place in Aotearoa. Fifteen stunning chapters bring together scholarship in history, archaeology, traditional narratives and oral sources. A parallel commentary is offered through more than 500 images, ranging from the elegant shapes of ancient taonga and artefacts to impressions of Māori in the sketchbooks and paintings of early European observers, through the shifting focus of the photographer’s lens to the response of contemporary Māori artists to all that has gone before. The many threads of history are entwined in this compelling narrative of the people and the land, the story of a rich past that illuminates the present and will inform the future. |
| polynesian construction: Topics in Oceanic Morphosyntax Claire Moyse-Faurie, Joachim Sabel, 2011-10-27 This monograph is a collection of selected papers on Oceanic languages. For the first time, aspects of the morphology and syntax of Oceanic languages such as the encoding of sentence types, the structure of the noun phrase, noun incorporation, constituent order, and ergative vs. accusative alignment are discussed from a comparative point of view, thus drawing attention to genetic, areal and language-specific features. The individual papers are based on the field work of the authors on lesser-described and endangered languages and are basically descriptive studies. At the same time they also explore the theoretical implications of the data presented and analyzed, as well as the historical development of certain morpho-syntactic phenomena, without basing these explorations on a single theoretical framework. The book provides new insights into the morphosyntactic structures of Oceanic languages and is of interest primarily for linguists working on Austronesian, in particular Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian languages, but also for typologists and linguists working on language change. |
| polynesian construction: The Problem of Polynesian Origins Edward Smith Craighill Handy, 1930 |
| polynesian construction: Causation, Permission, and Transfer Brian Nolan, Gudrun Rawoens, Elke Diedrichsen, 2015-01-14 This book offers a comprehensive investigative study of the argument realisation of the concepts of causative purpose, permit, let/allow and transfer in a broad cross-linguistic typologically diverse mix of languages with GIVE, GET, TAKE, PUT, and LET verbs. This volume stands as the first systematic exploration of these verbs and concepts as they occur in complex events and clauses. This book brings together scholars and researchers from a variety of functionally inspired theoretical backgrounds that have worked on these verbs within one language or from a cross-linguistic perspective. The objective is to understand the linguistic behaviour of the verbs and their inter-relationships within a contemporary cognitive-functional linguistic perspective. The languages represented include Irish, German, Slavic (West Slavic: Polish, Czech, Slovak and Sorbian and Western South Slavic: Slovenian and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian), Germanic, Romance, Gan Chinese Yichun dialect, Māori, Bohairic Coptic, Shaowu Chinese, Hebrew, English, Lithuanian, Estonian, the Australian dialects Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, Italian, and Persian. Topics discussed include argument structure and the encoding of arguments under causation, permission and transferverbs, their lexical semantics and event structure. |
| polynesian construction: Ergativity Robert M. W. Dixon, 1994-06-02 Although there is only one ergative language in Europe (Basque), perhaps one-quarter of the world's languages show ergative properties, and pose considerable difficulties for many current linguistic theories. R. M. W. Dixon here provides a full survey of the various types of ergativity, looking at the ways they interrelate, their semantic bases and their role in the organisation of discourse. Ergativity stems from R. M. W. Dixon's long-standing interest in the topic, and in particular from his seminal 1979 paper in Language. It includes a rich collection of data from a large number of the world's languages. Comprehensive, clear and insightful, it will be the standard point of reference for all those interested in the topic. |
| polynesian construction: Austronesian and Theoretical Linguistics Raphael Mercado, Eric Potsdam, Lisa deMena Travis, 2010-12-09 The Austronesian language family is the largest language family in the world, yet its members are relatively little studied, particularly from a formal perspective. Interestingly, because these languages exhibit typologically unusual properties, they pose important challenges to linguistic theory. Any theory that postulates a grammar that is common to all languages must take into account the particular characteristics of this language family. The contributions to this volume comprise five chapters on phonology and twelve chapters on syntax, all addressing aspects of these Austronesian challenges. The volume presents new data, new analyses of old data, and comparisons of closely related languages, as well as comparisons to languages outside of the language family. Taken together they form a unique picture of Austronesian linguistics. This volume will be of interest to researchers and students in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and language typology, as well as scholars of Austronesian languages. |
| polynesian construction: Hawaiian Dictionary Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert, 1986-03-01 For many years, Hawaiian Dictionary has been the definitive and authoritative work on the Hawaiian language. Now this indispensable reference volume has been enlarged and completely revised. More than 3,000 new entries have been added to the Hawaiian-English section, bringing the total number of entries to almost 30,000 and making it the largest and most complete of any Polynesian dictionary. Other additions and changes in this section include: a method of showing stress groups to facilitate pronunciation of Hawaiian words with more than three syllables; indications of parts of speech; current scientific names of plants; use of metric measurements; additional reconstructions; classical origins of loan words; and many added cross-references to enhance understanding of the numerous nuances of Hawaiian words. The English Hawaiian section, a complement and supplement to the Hawaiian English section, contains more than 12,500 entries and can serve as an index to hidden riches in the Hawaiian language. This new edition is more than a dictionary. Containing folklore, poetry, and ethnology, it will benefit Hawaiian studies for years to come. |
| polynesian construction: Historical Dictionary of Polynesia Robert D. Craig, 2011 The term Polynesia refers to a cultural and geographical area in the Pacific Ocean, bound by what is commonly referred to as the Polynesian Triangle, which consists of Hawai'i in the north, New Zealand in the southwest, and Easter Island in the southeast. Thousands of islands are scattered throughout this area, most of which are currently included in one of the modern island states of American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hawai'i, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna. The third edition of the Historical Dictionary of Polynesia greatly expands on the previous editions through a chronology, an introductory essay, an expansive bibliography, and over 400 cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, events, places, organizations, and other aspects of Polynesian history from the earliest times to the present. Appendixes of the major islands and atolls within Polynesia, the rulers and administrators of the 13 major island states, and basic demographic information of those states are also included. |
| polynesian construction: Researches Into the Physical History of Mankind James Cowles Prichard, 1847 |
| polynesian construction: Researches into the physical history of mankind ... Fourth edition, etc James Cowles Prichard, 1851 |
| polynesian construction: Researches Into the Physical History of Mankind: History of the Oceanic and American nations. 1847 James Cowles Prichard, 1847 |
| polynesian construction: History of the Oceanic and of the American nations. 1847 James Cowles Prichard, 1847 |
| polynesian construction: The First Migration Atholl Anderson, 2016-05-12 Thousands of years ago migrants from South China began the journey that took their descendants through the Pacific to the southernmost islands of Polynesia. Atholl Anderson’s ground-breaking synthesis of research and tradition charts this epic journey of New Zealand’s first human inhabitants. Taken from the multi-award-winning Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History this Text weaves together evidence from numerous sources: oral traditions, archaeology, genetics, linguistics, ethnography, historical observations, palaeoecology, climate change and more. The result is to people the ancient past: to offer readers a sense of the lives of Māori ancestors as they voyaged through centuries toward the South Pacific. |
| polynesian construction: The Polynesian Theme in American Restaurants 1954-1970 Jeanne Alaine Mercer, 1998 |
| polynesian construction: The Oxford Companion to Archaeology Brian M. Fagan, 1996-12-05 When we think of archaeology, most of us think first of its many spectacular finds: the legendary city of Troy, Tutankhamun's golden tomb, the three-million-year-old footprints at Laetoli, the mile-high city at Machu Picchu, the cave paintings at Lascaux. But as marvelous as these discoveries are, the ultimate goal of archaeology, and of archaeologists, is something far more ambitious. Indeed, it is one of humanity's great quests: to recapture and understand our human past, across vast stretches of time, as it was lived in every corner of the globe. Now, in The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, readers have a comprehensive and authoritative overview of this fascinating discipline, in a book that is itself a rare find, a treasure of up-to-date information on virtually every aspect of the field. The range of subjects covered here is breathtaking--everything from the domestication of the camel, to Egyptian hieroglyphics, to luminescence dating, to the Mayan calendar, to Koobi Fora and Olduvai Gorge. Readers will find extensive essays that illuminate the full history of archaeology--from the discovery of Herculaneum in 1783, to the recent finding of the Ice Man and the ancient city of Uruk--and engaging biographies of the great figures in the field, from Gertrude Bell, Paul Emile Botta, and Louis and Mary Leakey, to V. Gordon Childe, Li Chi, Heinrich Schliemann, and Max Uhle. The Companion offers extensive coverage of the methods used in archaeological research, revealing how archaeologists find sites (remote sensing, aerial photography, ground survey), how they map excavations and report findings, and how they analyze artifacts (radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, stratigraphy, mortuary analysis). Of course, archaeology's great subject is humanity and human culture, and there are broad essays that examine human evolution--ranging from our early primate ancestors, to Australopithecus and Cro-Magnon, to Homo Erectus and Neanderthals--and explore the many general facets of culture, from art and architecture, to arms and armor, to beer and brewing, to astronomy and religion. And perhaps most important, the contributors provide insightful coverage of human culture as it has been expressed in every region of the world. Here entries range from broad overviews, to treatments of particular themes, to discussions of peoples, societies, and particular sites. Thus, anyone interested in North America would find articles that cover the continent from the Arctic to the Eastern woodlands to the Northwest Coast, that discuss the Iroquois and Algonquian cultures, the hunters of the North American plains, and the Norse in North America, and that describe sites such as Mesa Verde, Meadowcraft Rockshelter, Serpent Mound, and Poverty Point. Likewise, the coverage of Europe runs from the Paleolithic period, to the Bronze and Iron Age, to the Post-Roman era, looks at peoples such as the Celts, the Germans, the Vikings, and the Slavs, and describes sites at Altamira, Pompeii, Stonehenge, Terra Amata, and dozens of other locales. The Companion offers equally thorough coverage of Africa, Europe, North America, Mesoamerica, South America, Asia, the Mediterranean, the Near East, Australia and the Pacific. And finally, the editors have included extensive cross-referencing and thorough indexing, enabling the reader to pursue topics of interest with ease; charts and maps providing additional information; and bibliographies after most entries directing readers to the best sources for further study. Every Oxford Companion aspires to be the definitive overview of a field of study at a particular moment of time. This superb volume is no exception. Featuring 700 articles written by hundreds of respected scholars from all over the world, The Oxford Companion to Archaeology provides authoritative, stimulating entries on everything from bog bodies, to underwater archaeology, to the Pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings. |
| polynesian construction: Out in Theory Ellen Lewin, William Leap, 2002-07-29 A companion volume to Lewin and Leap's Out in the field, this study presents lesbian and gay anthropology as a distinct specialization and addresses the theoretical issues that define the emerging field. The essays detail the scholarly, personal, and political factors that affected the emergence of lesbian and gay anthropology; they define the lesbian and gay anthropology's scope and subject matter and consider how feminist anthropology helped define the field, and how transgendered experience, queer theory, race and class studies are promoting a new direction of inquiry. |
| polynesian construction: The Journal of the Polynesian Society Polynesian Society (N.Z.), 1897 Vols. for 1892-1941 contain the transactions and proceedings of the society. |
| polynesian construction: Hosts and Guests Valene L. Smith, 1989-02 Tourism—one of the world's largest industries—has long been appreciated for its economic benefits, but in this volume tourism receives a unique systematic scrutiny as a medium for cultural exchange. Modern developments in technology and industry, together with masterful advertising, have created temporarily leisured people with the desire and the means to travel. They often in turn effect profound cultural change in the places they visit, and the contributors to this work all attend to the impact these guests have on their hosts. In contrast to the dramatic economic transformations, the social repercussions of tourism are subtle and often recognized only by the indigenous peoples themselves and by the anthropologists who have studied them before and after the introduction of tourism. The case studies in Hosts and Guests examine the five types of tourism—historical, cultural, ethnic, environmental, and recreational—and their impact on diverse societies over a broad geographical range |
| polynesian construction: Companion Encyclopedia of Archaeology Graeme Barker, 2002-08-13 This comprehensive, fully illustrated Companion answers the need for an in-depth archaeology reference that provides authoritative coverage of this complex and interdisciplinary field. The work brings together the myriad strands and the great temporal and spatial breadth of the field into two thematically organized volumes. In twenty-six authoritative and clearly-written essays, this Companion explores the origins, aims, methods and problems of archaeology. Each essay is written by a scholar of international standing and illustrations complement the text. |
| polynesian construction: Northwest Anthropological Research Notes Roderick Sprague, Deward E. Walker, Jr., A Reprint Edition of the Entire Davidson Journal of Anthropology, 1955, 1956, & 1957 |
| polynesian construction: Proceedings of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, 1883 |
| polynesian construction: Report of the Proceedings Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, 1891 List of members in 1887/89-1890/91, 1899/1900-1904/06. |
| polynesian construction: Proceedings of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia , 1892 |
| polynesian construction: Report of the Proceedings of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia , 1891 |
| polynesian construction: An Archaeology of West Polynesian Prehistory Anita Jane Smith, 2002 There can be little doubt on linguistic evidence that East Polynesia was first settled from West Polynesia. The author argues, however, that the related archaeological record has been made to fit this dominant paradigm. Her objective assessment of the material evidence indicates that there is no compelling reason to derive East Polynesian settlers from West Polynesia on archaeological grounds. |
| polynesian construction: Around the World, Or, Travels in Polynesia, China, India, Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Other "heathen" Countries James Martin Peebles, 1880 |
| polynesian construction: The Expression of Possession William B. McGregor, 2010-01-13 This collection of nine original articles deals with the expression of possession at various levels of grammar, morphological, phrasal, and syntactic, and from a typologically diverse range of languages (including Germanic, Oceanic, Meso-American, and Australian Aboriginal). There are two main aims. The first is to reveal something of the range of constructions employed cross-linguistically in the expression of possession, and second, to present an understanding of the possessive relation itself as a cognitive and linguistic phenomenon. A guiding principle in the selection of contributors has been to invite linguists whose research, while not necessarily directly dealing with possession, touches on it, and indicates that they are likely to provide fresh perspectives on this well-trodden field. Key features: William McGregor is a well known expert in this fíeld of research Possession is a paradigm for studies on typology, ethnology etc., because a multitude of linguistic and cultural varieties are reflected in this field new series textbook |
| polynesian construction: Administrative Decisions Under Immigration & Nationality Laws United States. Department of Justice, 1965 |
| polynesian construction: Plants, People, and Culture Michael J Balick, Paul Alan Cox, 2020-08-19 Is it possible that plants have shaped the very trajectory of human cultures? Using riveting stories of fieldwork in remote villages, two of the world’s leading ethnobotanists argue that our past and our future are deeply intertwined with plants. Creating massive sea craft from plants, indigenous shipwrights spurred the navigation of the world’s oceans. Today, indigenous agricultural innovations continue to feed, clothe, and heal the world’s population. One out of four prescription drugs, for example, were discovered from plants used by traditional healers. Objects as common as baskets for winnowing or wooden boxes to store feathers were ornamented with traditional designs demonstrating the human ability to understand our environment and to perceive the cosmos. Throughout the world, the human body has been used as the ultimate canvas for plant-based adornment as well as indelible design using tattoo inks. Plants also garnered religious significance, both as offerings to the gods and as a doorway into the other world. Indigenous claims that plants themselves are sacred is leading to a startling reformulation of conservation. The authors argue that conservation goals can best be achieved by learning from, rather than opposing, indigenous peoples and their beliefs. KEY FEATURES • An engrossing narrative that invites the reader to personally engage with the relationship between plants, people, and culture • Full-color illustrations throughout—including many original photographs captured by the authors during fieldwork • New to this edition—Plants That Harm, a chapter that examines the dangers of poisonous plants and the promise that their study holds for novel treatments for some of our most serious diseases, including Alzheimer’s and substance addiction • Additional readings at the end of each chapter to encourage further exploration • Boxed features on selected topics that offer further insight • Provocative questions to facilitate group discussion Designed for the college classroom as well as for lay readers, this update of Plants, People, and Culture entices the reader with firsthand stories of fieldwork, spectacular illustrations, and a deep respect for both indigenous peoples and the earth’s natural heritage. |
| polynesian construction: Tangata Whenua Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, 2015-11-19 Tangata Whenua: A History presents a rich narrative of the Māori past from ancient origins in South China to the twenty-first century, in a handy paperback format. The authoritative text is drawn directly from the award-winning Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History; the full text of the big hardback is available in a reader-friendly edition, ideal for students and for bedtime reading, and a perfect gift for those whose budgets do not stretch to the illustrated edition. Maps and diagrams complement the text, along with a full set of references and the important statistical appendix. Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History was published to widespread acclaim in late 2014. This magnificent history has featured regularly in the award lists: winner of the 2015 Royal Society Science Book Prize, shortlisted for the international Ernest Scott Prize, winner of the Te Kōrero o Mua (History) Award at the Ngā Kupu ora Aotearoa Māori Book Awards, and Gold in the Pride in Print Awards. The importance of this history to New Zealand cannot be overstated. Māori leaders emphatically endorsed the book, as have reviewers and younger commentators. They speak of the way Tangata Whenua draws together different strands of knowledge – from historical research through archaeology and science to oral tradition. They remark on the contribution this book makes to evolving knowledge, describing it as ‘a canvas to paint the future on’. And many comment on the contribution it makes to the growth of understanding between the people of this country. |
| polynesian construction: A Chosen People, a Promised Land Hokulani K. Aikau, 2012 How Native Hawaiians' experience of Mormonism intersects with their cultural and ethnic identities and traditions |
| polynesian construction: Religious and Cosmic Beliefs of Central Polynesia Robert W. Williamson, 2013-11-14 Originally published in 1933, this book forms one of two volumes on the religious, mythical and cosmic structures of Central Polynesia. |
