Samoan archaeology and cultural heritage : monuments and people, memory and history / Helene Martinsson-Wallin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Martinsson-Wallin, Helene, author.

Series:

Archaeopress archaeology

Archaeopress Archaeology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prehistoric peoples--Samoan Islands.

Prehistoric peoples.

Antiquities, Prehistoric--Samoan Islands.

Antiquities, Prehistoric.

Antiquities.

Samoan Islands--Antiquities.

Samoan Islands.

Genre:

Pasifika.

Physical Description:

x, 186 pages : illustrations, maps ; 29 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Archaeopress Archaeology, 2016.

Summary:

"The overall purpose of this book is to provide a foundation for Samoan students to become the custodians of the historical narrative based on Archaeological research. Issues that are explored are; Do ancient remains matter in contemporary Samoa? What is the chronological status, and spatial relationship of archaeological monuments found in Samoa? Is the settlement pattern stable over the past 3000 years that Samoa has been populated and/or does central places emerge trough time? Previous efforts from the outside during the 1960 -70 of introducing Archaeology to Samoa that used archaeological methods, historical linguistics and ethno-history to interpret the Samoan past are assessed in regard to the development in Samoa but also in a wider West-Polynesian context. The book also contains data and discussions on our three-year program for archaeology at the large and important Pulemelei mound in Savai'i during 2002-2004, some of which has not been published before. Results and further implications of these investigations that were followed up by an eight-year program where the author introduced courses in Archaeology at The National University of Samoa are also presented and discussed. These efforts served as a foundation to create a Bachelors program for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Management. Results from our archaeological field schools, collaborations with the Museum of Samoa and interview projects on Cultural Heritage Management, education and legislation are also discussed here. They provide a foundation to understand the role of and the Historical Cultural Heritage in the past and present Samoa and how to move on to manage and protect this heritage in the future."--Publisher's information.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 Archaeology in Samoa

setting the stage

The outline of a first prehistoric sequence

Background

The Natural environment

Accounts of early survey and excavations

Samoan Field Monuments and Finds

Chronology and Settlement Pattern

Research issues

ch. 2 The Pulemelei mound site investigations 2002-2004

Introduction

The investigations had the following aims

Clearing, mapping and test-excavation 2002

The main mound

Connected mound to the north of Pulemelei

Test excavations at the site

Trench 1

Collection of charcoal sample from the top platform

Clearing, mapping, excavation and ceremony 2003

Ceremony at Pulemelei

The 2003 excavation

Main Mound: foundation excavation; Trench 1

Trench 2

Trench 3

Trench 4

Trench 8

Excavation of umuti

Trench 5

South house platform

Trench 6

Trench 7 Test pits and stone piles

Archaeological excavation and remote sensing 2004

Main Mound: excavations of the west stairway and top platform

Trench 13

Trench 16

South platform extension

Trench 7B

Trench 9

Trench 10

Trench 11

Trench 12

Trench 14

Test pits 12, 13, 14

Excavation of the North mound

Trench 15

Clearing and excavation at Pa Tonga

Trench 2 and 3

Summary of the geophysical survey

Conclusion and Results of the Investigations

The construction of the mound

Settlement activity (or activities)

The North mound and umuti

The Pa Tonga site

Finds

Pulemelei site history

Early settlement 200 BC-1100 AD

Mound construction 1100-1400 AD

ch. 3 Prehistoric settlement patterns in Samoa

the Letoloplantation revisited

Settlement patterns in Samoa

A narrative of a possible proto-historic settlement pattern

Excavation of structures SS-Le, 709, 721, 724 and 725 at Letolo plantation

Stratigraphy, features and finds

Test excavation of Umu SS-Le 724

Trench in SS-Le 725

Test excavation of SS-Le 709

Conclusion of the excavations of platforms and an oven

A re-assessment of the settlement pattern at Letolo plantation

Correspondence analysis of the Letolo settlement

The dynamics of settlement patterns

ch. 4 Star- and chiefly mounds and `the house of the octopus'

investigations of various monuments in Samoa

Malaefono star/council platform at Salei'moa

Excavation of the platform

Interpretation of the site

Fale o le fee

`the house of the octopus'

Background to research

Site visit and film documentary in 2006

The archaeological investigations 2007

The aims of the investigation were

Conclusion

The Sa'anapu Mound, Ana Seuao and a partly destroyed mound and settlement at Vaiuso-uta road cutting The mound(s) at Sa'anapu-uta and Ana Seuao (Safata)

Mound(s) at Sa'anapu-uta

Ana Seuao

Vaiusu-uta road section earthmound

The Laupule mound excavation 2010

Research history

Test excavation at Laupule mound

Test pits 3 and 4

Conclusions and interpretation

Temporal, Spatial and Social relationships of Monuments and People in Samoa

an interpretation

ch. 5 Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Management and Education in Contemporary Samoa

Archaeological sites, and land tenure in contemporary Samoan society

Archaeological sites, the legal protection and management practises

Committees and Policies

Sites of Ambiguity

Two case studies

Pulemelei and Letolo Settlement-contested ownership

Fale Fono

The destruction of the `house of independence'

Archaeology and Education in Samoa

School curriculums

Higher Education at Vaiuso-uta road cutting Mediating Archaeology and History to the public

`Lest we forget'

An oral history project

Documentary at Sa'anapu mound and Fale o le Fe'e

Museum of Samoa

Exhibitions and Repatriation of Archaeological finds

Tourism and Ancient Monuments

Discussion

Do ancient sites matter in Samoa?

ch. 6 Archaeology in Samoa

Synthesising the Past?

Material culture in the Samoan past: inter-island and West-Polynesian relationships

Adzes of interaction and decorated and non-decorated pots

Chiefly monuments for the living and for the dead

Landscape archaeology

static and dynamic interpretations of settlement patterns

The past in present Samoa

A discussion of the archaeologists' vs. the Samoans' perceptions (fa'a samoa) of the past

Historical Cultural Heritage vs Cultural Heritage

Archaeology in Samoa

Synthesising the past?

ch. 7iculums

Higher Education at Vaiuso-uta road cutting Conclusions, Further Perspectives and English and Samoan Summaries

Conclusions

Further Perspectives

SUMMARY: (Samoan translation by Vavao Fetui, lecturer in Samoan at University of Auckland)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Appendix I Table of Samoan Excavations

Appendix II Radiocarbon Dates

Appendix III

Artefacts found at the Malaefono plantation

Artifact Analysis

Letolo 2006. Artefacts and samples found during the excavation

Pulemelei Lithics

Malaefono find list

Pulemeli Artifacts

Pulemelei catalogue 2003

Pulemelei catalogue 2004.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781784913090

178491309X

OCLC:

961035589